Journal of Agriculture. [8 March, 1907. 



annually at such fee. This would encourage the private ownership of 

 stallions of a sta-ndard approximating to that of the Government-owned 

 stallions. 



3. That all stallions be licensed subject to approval of a qualified 

 Board, and no unlicensed stallion be allowed to stand for public service for 

 fees. 



4. That the Government gi\-e earnest consideration to the great need 

 for discouraging ihe exportation of mares. This might in part be accom- 

 plished by reserving the option of purchasing from each shipment collected 

 for export such mares as it is desired to retain at a fair market ])rice, 

 with the object of selling them to breeders on terms of two, three, or four 

 annual pa\ments. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



(Signed) S. OCTAVIUS WOOD. 



SOUNDNESS IN HORSES. 



S. S. Cameron, 3/.R.C.V.S., Chief Yctcriiiary Officer. 



Definition and Explanation — Classification of Ihisoundnesses, hereditary unsound- 

 nesses — Examination for soundness, preliminary examination, manual examination, 

 completing examination. 



" Freedom from any abnormality which at present interferes, or in the 

 future is likely to interfere, with an animal's usefulness." Such is a work- 

 able definition of the term soundness as applied to horses. Technically, of 

 course, to be sound, a horse must be free from anv disease, defect or 

 abnormality whatsoever; but it has been held in the" English courts that 

 soundness is a question, not so much of disease, as of usefulness. For 

 instance, while a simple sore on the side of the neck would not necessarily 

 constitute unsoundness, a similar sore behind the withers in a saddle horse 

 or on the shoulder in a harness horse or on any place where it would inter- 

 fere with the natural usefulness of the animal for the purpose for which it 

 was used would certainly amount to an unsonndness. Consequentlv, in 

 deciding on the soundness or otherwise of a horse, consideration must be 

 given to the nature of the work he will be called upon to perform. Side- 

 bones, for example, constitute unsoundness in a light horse performing his 

 vvork at a trot, but in certain stages they may be "passed " in a draught 

 farm horse used on soft land at a walking pace. Again, there are manv 

 diseases or ailments which at one stage may render the animal decidedlv 

 unsound, but at another are not likely to do so. Splints when forming 

 frequently cause lameness, but when "set" they seldom do so, and 

 their presence in an aged horse should not go against him. Age also, and 

 many other features have to be taken into consideration, so that it Avill be 

 seen the subject is largely one in which individual oninion and judgment 

 h.'ive to be depended on. 



