SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 485 



7.ERMIN. 



Both the biped and the quadruped are subject to the visitation of insects, 

 that fasten on the skin, and are a constant nuisance from the itchiness which 

 they occasion. If the horse, after being turned out for the winter, is taken up 

 in the spring, long and rough in his coat, and poor in condition, and with evi- 

 dent hide-bound, he will almost invariably be afflicted with vermin. 



In our present imperfect acquaintance with natural history, it is difficult to 

 account for the appearance of certain insects, and of those alone on the integu- 

 ment of one animal, while others of an altogether different character are found 

 on its neighbour. Each one has a tormentor peculiar to itself. 



The vermin of the horse is destroyed by an infusion of tobacco, or a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate, the latter requiring the greatest caution. The 

 skin being once cleansed of them, an attention to cleanliness will prevent their 

 reappearance. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



ON SOUNDNESS, AND THE PURCHASE AND SALE 

 OF HORSES. 



THERE are few sources of greater annoyance both to the purchaser and the 

 seller of the horse than disputes with regard to the soundness of the animal. 

 Although, in describing the various parts of the horse, we have glanced at the 

 connexion of certain natural conformations, and some alterations of structure, 

 and accidents, and diseases, with the question of soundness or unsoundness, it 

 may not be uninteresting to those for whom our work is designed, if we now 

 bring into one point of view the substance of that which has been scattered over 

 many pages. 



That horse is sound in whom there is no disease, and no alteration of struc- 

 ture that impairs, or is likely to impair, his natural usefulness. The horse 

 is unsound that labours under disease, or has some alteration of structure which 

 does interfere, or is likely to interfere, with his natural usefulness*. The 

 term u natural usefulness " must be borne in mind. One horse may possess 

 great speed, but is soon knocked up ; another will work all day, but cannot be 

 got beyond a snail's pace : a third with a heavy forehand is liable to stumble, and 

 is continually putting to hazard the neck of his rider ; another, with an irritable 

 constitution and a loose washy form, loses his appetite and begins to scour if a little 

 extra work is exacted from him. The term unsoundness must not be applied to 

 either of these ; it would be opening far too widely a door to disputation and 

 endless wrangling. The buyer can discern, or ought to know, whether the 

 form of the horse is that which will render him likely to suit his purpose, and 



* Since the publication of our first edition, tied law, that the breach of a warranty of 



this definition or rule as to soundness or soundness does not entitle the purchaser to 



unsoundness has received very high judicial return the horse, but only to recover the dif- 



sunction, Coates v. Stephens, 2 Moody and ference of value of the horse with or with- 



Robinson, 157; Scholefield v. Robb, id. out the particular unsounduess, the question 



210. We shall adhere to it as our test of of temporary maladies, producing no perma- 



soundness or unsoundness throughout this nent deterioration of the animal, would, ge- 



chapter, not forgetting what is said in the nerally speaking, only involve a right to 



following extract from a note to one of these damages merely nominal.'' 

 oases. " As H may now be considered as set- 



