Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-06-03
THE ILLSOF HORSEFLESII
HOW TO DETECT DEFECTS IN
: ANIMALS OFFERED FOR SALE.

e. ANIMALS OFFERED FOR SALE.
isSome Valuable Hints to Buyers-one
of the First BIemIshes To Look for
Is. the Spavin-The Poll Evil Is a
Fatal Disease.
ls The Ills which horsefiesh is heir to
f;form an important port in the market
lfvalue Of mans faithful friend. These
Ellis, too, are Of quite numerous and
Estrongly marked character, being part
Land parcel Of the anatomy Of c6nsid-
iserable percentage of the equine fam
tafly. A perfect horse physically is
lgenough Of a rarity to cause comment
land much boasting on the part OF his
lsowner, while the perfect horse in form,
action, manners and disposition is an
Ilinyaluable creature to his fortunate
master.
SIN the regular sales conducted in
horse centers the dealers become so
expert in Judging the animals that
their parts are passed upon with light
hing rapidity as the offerings appear
In the ring to be sold at the hand, or,
Father, at the mouth-of the auction
eer. A subject is then listed as hav-
ing this or that blemish, or is simply
ssold to the halter" at the buyers risk.
Putting aside the blemishes OF a
horse in disposition or training, which
may properly be called blemishcs in
She abstract-like vicioHsncss, balki-
Ress or awkwardness-and looking
solely to the deformitics which mar
Egure and concrete usefulness Of the
Fbur-legged servant, it is found that
one of the most common blemishcs is
the splint-a small, bony formation
Or button, more or less clcnSated.which
Els found usually just below the knee
On the inside of one or both legs, ana
Tying between the .wo main bones OF
the forelegs.
1.-THE splint is a minor blemish that
is usually an objection in that 1t mars
the smoothness of the leg in the eye
81 the horseman. 1t is interesting,
too, as study in evolution, many re-
garding it as merely rudimentary
remnant of what was once an extra
member in the prehistoric horse-the
undeveloped horse of early creation.
Quite certain it is that in a number Of
strains of the horse family the splint
Isl regularly inherited and appears On
nearly every foal. A spllnt can be
reduced all or in part by early manip-
ulation or later surgery.
Zone of the first blemishes looked for
by the horse buyer is the SPAWN, COM
monty called O lack" The hind leg
isfthe home of the SPAWN, and then
there is the "bog" SPAWN which is not
ofs-bone The former is the bad one,
and as rule makes the horse iame
The spawn comes on slowly and in
.creases in size ana its power to Grip
rus its possessor as time passes. 1t
Flows on the hook, inside and just be-
sinW the big joint. In rare cases it ap-
iisl-rss on the outside. Cures are
+ "A iy-;;i:t5t 5on7 growth sometimes appears
between the fetlock and the hooI OF
tbe horse and is known as the ring
bone. 1t may be scarcely apparent, OF
II NAV come to entirely fill up that
snace with a rough, unnatural growth
of bony substance. the Dlemish IS
bad one, quite incurable, and makes
its victim lame. The hind feet are
more commonly affected than the
front.
| little lower. next TO the hoof, or
tener in front than behind, is the seal
of sidebone, a blemish less famlllal
TO the ordinary eye than any OF the
foregoing. 1t has come into notice II
this country more conspicuousiS
with the advent of the heavy draugh
breeds. Heavy weight and work OF
hard pavements are conducive 10 th'
sidebone, which is not more nor les
than the upper and new growth OF hoo
rendered tender and diseased. IN ex
+reme cases it leads to the gutter
when it renders the worker useless
Taken in it's early stage, 1t SUBMITS =
treatment and rest. Paslurage olte'
nuts the hoof back to its norma
growth and effects a cure.
A disease that ends in a queer growt
On the very poll or top Of the hea
of the horse is called poll evil" Tn
trouble is quickly observed, owing
the habit of the horse in stretchln
his neck straight out in 'front.' all
makes a pitiable spectacle of the pa
tient There is little left to do for IN
moor creature except to put it out OF Il
misery.
common blemish is the curp-
rounding of the bone OF the hlhd ie
inst below the back joint OF the noe
This formation does not injure the Sc
yiceablencss of the driver appreclaDi
If patiently rubbed when it first a
nears the curb can be reduced, u
hone absorbing the growth, If not Il
: prominent.
A wind-broken horse is one that n
been permanently injured in Dreathil
mower by overdriving. Violent eXerci
| reveals the weakness to the horsemi
: who listens to the breathing. In G
G treme cases anyone can hear the Dru
roar a block away.
In purchasing horse the careie
8 man may neglect to note whether
not the animal is deaf; his eye may II
: he expert enough to seq that the
fering is "swayback," is notched
where the collar rests, has blister
shoulders, string halt" so-cail
capped hocks," is a cribber-as ne "
find out when the purchase Is tax
home and eats up the managers.
Overheating may bring on the Oil
,+oooere and oycrdriying and Sudt