368 Report on the Exhibition of Live Stock at Plymouth. 



tural Society's Show, riymouth. The number, inchitliiig all classes, is, I 

 believe, ninety-two ; of these, thi-ee only were affected in the wind, two of which 

 belonged to the Class for Agricultural Stallions and one to the Class for Ilmitcr 

 Stallions. It is gratifying to observe that no disease of an hereditary nature 

 was observed in the eyes of any of the horses exhibited : but disease of the 

 hocks is more prevalent, including what is termed bone and bag spavins, and 

 curbs. These cases amount to about 7 per cent., which must be looked upon as 

 a large percentage. Shelly, flat, and brittle hoofs were by no means numerous. 

 I observed these in four instances only, viz., two in the Suffolk Stallions, and 

 two in the Class of Agricultural Stallions shown for the local prizes. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



Your obedient servant, 



George Varnell. 



I may here call the attention of the Council to the question of 

 disqualification. Ought we not in justice to our Judges and to 

 the public, whom we profess to protect by our veterinary exami- 

 nation, to post up the disqualification and the cause of it over the 

 horse discpialified? No doubt the severity of our veterinary 

 examination keeps many horses from the Show-yard, and renders 

 the show less attractive than it would be, were we not so strict ; 

 but, on the other hand, we profess to protect the public against 

 hereditary disease, and I believe that though our Show-yard 

 may not have as many horses as some others, yet that we have 

 steadily lessened the number of diseased horses exhibited. To 

 label a stallion as a roarer, or affected with hereditary disease, 

 must of course seriously depreciate his money value, and so far 

 inflict a pecuniary loss upon his owner — which is not the case in 

 a dis([ualification of pigs shown over age, or sheep improperly 

 shorn, where the money value of the animal remains unaltered, 

 although the character of the owner may suffer. The question 

 is a difficult one, and, although it perhaps would have been 

 right to post up the disqualifications, yet I did not like to do it 

 without the express sanction of the Council, and I believe it is 

 a matter to which their attention should be called. There is no 

 doubt that the veterinary examination is a great obstacle with ex- 

 hibitors ; I am sure that it is carried out carefully and prudently 

 by Professor Varnell, and I should be sorry to see it discon- 

 tinued, because I think it is the duty of the Society to discourage 

 unsound animals, rather than to bring together a great show of 

 horses. At present the Horse-show is the least successful part of 

 our undertaking ; the expense of railway travelling, and the 

 length of time during which valuable horses are detained, and, 

 above all, the fear of the veterinary examination, rendering owners 

 of thoroughbred stallions or of first-class hunters unwilling to 

 exhibit. 



It was hinted that the boxes for horses were capable of 

 improvement, but no suggestions on the subject were made ; on 

 this question, and that of the payment to be made for boxes, the 

 Council will always be ready to listen to any opinion expressed 



