AS TO SOUNDNESS. 75 



Bruised sole, when freshly done, also gives rise to much 

 lameness, and to discolouration of the sole seen on paring 

 with a drawing knife. If the lameness has all gone, 

 and there be no undue flatness of the sole — which there 

 often is — although there may be discoloration still visible, 

 such a horse could not, for this reason alone, be properly 

 rejected as unsound. The blood extravasation is only 

 a sign of what has been, and is not a physical detriment, 

 nor will it lead to any. Very different is it when the 

 sole from any cause is flatter than it ought to be ; then, 

 unless protected in some way, as by a leather sole, a 

 bruise to the sole may re-occur at any time. In such 

 a case a bruised sole of any degree whatever is an 

 unsoundness, occurring as it does in a conformation 

 suffering from it, and predisposed to it. We should 

 condemn such a case for the same reasons that we 

 should condemn the faintest possible thickening in the 

 curb place occurring in " curby hocks." 



Bruised coronet, however slight, can seldom be looked 

 upon as a trivial injury. Without the greatest care such 

 injuries are apt to assume a most aggravated character. 

 If the only evidence you can find is a simple peeling off 

 of the skin, accompanied by increased heat, such cases 

 you will do well to reject, at least till the effects of the 

 injury, slight as it may appear, have gone. 



Speedy-cut when fresh done only can be looked 

 upon as unsound. No matter how many scars we 

 may have, no harm can arise from them. It shows, 

 however, a somewhat grave defect in the horse's action. 



