106 WHAT DISEASES CONSTITUTE UNSOUNDNESS OR VICE. 



at the Liverpool Summer Assizes, 1846, and was an action 

 of Assumpsit on the warranty of a Horse, the breach of 

 which was Wilremhauncli or ^tring-Jialt and Spavin. 



The pLaintiff and defendant were both Horsedealers, 

 and it appeared that the plaintiff met the Horse in ques- 

 tion coming to Chester Fair, and at that time there was a 

 kick apparent on one hock. The plaintiff mounted and , 

 tried him, but said he had got a String-halt ; this the de- 

 fendant denied, saying there was nothing but the previous 

 kick. The horse was eventually bought for 52/., the de- 

 fendant warranting him "sound, except a kick on the 

 hock." The Horse was String-halted on both legs. 



Veterinary Surgeons and other witnesses were called on 

 both sides, who all agreed that there was String-halt, but 

 differed in their opinion as to the existence of a Spavin. 



To prove String-halt unsoundness, Mr. Howarth of Man- 

 chester, a Veterinary Surgeon, described it to be a spasmodic 

 affection of the ahdndor muscle of the hind leg, a nerve 

 coming through the trunk being affected. He said that a 

 Horse affected by it loses his condition and is not able to 

 do so much work. 



Mr. Ellis, of Liverpool, a Veterinary Surgeon, stated 

 that String-halt is a disease of the sciatic nerve, rendering 

 a Horse less fit for work and impeding him in backing, 

 and that he had practical experience showing it to be a 

 disease. 



Mr. Bretherton, of Liverpool, a Veterinary Surgeon of 

 twenty-four years' practice, said that String-halt is caused 

 by pressure on the sciatic nerve, that it increases by work, 

 and is Unsoundness. He had seen Horses become quite 

 useless from it, but that more aggravated cases were seen 

 in the country than any submitted to the Veterinary Col- 

 lege. He had seen Ilorses in his father's stables quite 

 useless from it, but that at first it is only observable when 

 the Horse is turning round. 



The defendant called Mr. Gregson, a Veterinary Sur- 

 geon, who had attended the Horse, and did not consider 

 String-halt Unsoundness. But on being cj^uestioned by 

 the Judge he admitted that it frequently gets worse, and 

 that when very bad it impedes the action of the Horse, 

 making him less competent for work. 



Mr. Taylor, another Veterinary Surgeon, said that 

 String-half does not impair a Horse's condition. He 

 had examined the Horse in question and considered him 

 Sound. 



