AS TO SOUXDXESS. yj 



Passing over the first division, in which six unmistakable 

 diseases are enumerated, we come to the second division, 

 which contains three. Grease affects the skin of the 

 heels, but more often the hind ones. We frequently 

 have it or cracked heels in the hollow of the heels of 

 the fore extremities. If it is unmistakably present, 

 of course the horse is for the time unsound. If, how- 

 ever, the skin of the heels be swollen and only slightly 

 cracked, or not cracked at all, if you can make out that 

 it is an attack of grease which threatens, the horse is 

 for _the time unsound, because work would aggravate the 

 seemingly trivial disease ; therefore, before he would be 

 fit to use he would require cooling medicine, and a horse 

 actually requiring even so little as a dose of physic does 

 not answer the definition of a sound horse. However 

 you may regret having to reject such a one, you will 

 either have to do so or give an opinion such as no 

 law court would support you in. It is best in all 

 temporary and easily removable cases of unsoundness 

 to advise proper treatment, and ask to be allowed to 

 prosecute your examination at the expiration of a spe- 

 cified time, which you name. On no account ought you 

 to give a certificate of soundness in these cases and trust 

 to the purchaser or any other person to remove the 

 temporary unsoundness and make your certificate good. 

 It is a matter of daily experience of parties buying horses 

 and regretting it within twenty-four hours. If they are 

 really dishonest, they will even try and cripple the horse 

 by " beaning," in order that they may return him. The 



