158 THE HOUSE BOOK. 



refused in France periodic ophthalmia, or 

 moonblindness, and thick wind. The French 

 names for these unsoundnesses are "fluxion 

 periodique" and "cornage." 



Stallions are not permitted to serve mares 

 owned by others than their proprietors unless 

 they have been examined and certified as free 

 from these troubles by a board of veterinarians 

 appointed by the government. Any one who 

 stands for public service a stallion that has not 

 been approved, authorized or certified is liable 

 to fine, and the owners of mares using such a 

 horse may also be prosecuted and punished. 

 There is nothing in the law to prevent a breeder 

 using any sort of an unsound stallion to his own 

 mares. When a stallion has been examined 

 and pronounced free from the unsoundnesses 

 named he is branded on the neck under the 

 mane with a five-pointed star. When certifica- . 

 tion is withheld on account of the horse failing 

 to pass the veterinary ordeal he is branded 

 under the mane with the letter E, which stands 

 for the French word "refuse" refused. The 

 five-pointed star and the letter E are the only 

 brands placed on horses by the French govern- 

 ment. In France draft colts cannot stand for 

 public service until they are over thirty months 

 of age. 



Certification of freedom from moonblind- 

 ness and thick wind is granted for one year 

 only. Each stallion designed for public service 



