42 6] H AL signifies an irregularity in the mo- tion of a horse, arising from a lame- ness, or other injury, in the shoulder, leg, or foot, which in- duces him to spare that part, or < tert it too timorously. As an intimate acq' ■with this detect is of considerable importance to the fanner, wo shall briefly state the principal circum- stances connected with the sub It a horse halts, the lameness stay be discovered either before, in which ease the malady is seated in the shoulder, legs, or feetj or, ■7, when it lies in the hip, ham, Sec. 1 . When the cause of the affec- tion proceed.-, from the shoulder, the horse does not lift up his leg, but drags it on the ground, or casts one of them more than the other, and keeps the knee in a manner unbent. On turning short, he will evidently favour the lame leg. — Hence the injury must be either in the top of the shoulder-blade, called the withers, which is known by the animal halting most when a person is en his hack ; his fre- it shrinking; and, it" pressed v ith th< hand about the top of the shoulder-blade, att< mpting to bite . or, the hurt may be at the lower end of the shoulder-blade ; in which case he treads with thick steps, shrin! s, and is ready to drop on being squeezed in that part. — i When it arises from the elbow which join- the marrow-hone to the leg, the horse winces, and draws up his foot, on slightly pinching the part above-mentioned. 2. If the lameness be-in the h ( ase it is in the . or pastern joint), the horse 'in r the one or the other, and walks stiffly on that kg j or, when it appears iu H A M the shank, it will be. discovered br> 'Mue splint, screw, windgall, or other visible malady. 3. h~ the defect be in the foot, it is either in the coronet, and pro- ceeds from a strain : or it becomes evident by a hot and inflamed tu- mor. Or, if it b„ j situated in the heel, it may have been occa- sioned by an over-reach, which is discernible by the eye, as well as by the animal's treading entirely ou his toe. When a house hah-, more on sloping than on plain ground, the mischief is seated between the nil a rters. This kind of limping is sometimes occasioned by being pricked with a nail in shoeing; in which case, the offensive nail may be distinguished by pinching the. head of each together with the, hoof. Should a horse halt behind, from a disorder in the hip, he will walk side-long, ami not follow so easily with that leg as the other; nor will he turn on the side aifected, with- out favouring the leg. This cause of lameness is particularly disco- verable when the animal, in walking on flic side of a bank, lifts up the injured leg higher than the other, kike all injuries of the hip-joint, that last mentioned is most difficult to be cured ; and, in every species of the affections b« tore described, total abstinence from bard labour, proper feeding, and, according to circumstances, either moderate ex- ercise or complete rest, are essen- tial requisites to a speedy recov( ry. 1 [AM, the lower part of an, animal's thigh, adjoining to the knee; or the angle in which the leg and thigh, when bent, incline tch other. Ham, in Commi ree, denote. 1 ; the thigh of a hog or bear, dried, seasoned, and prepared so as to preserve
