THE HORSE. 71 



Thev render it necessary to wear a thick and hep«'y shoe, or a bar-slioe. 

 in order to protect tiic weakened and diseased part; and they arc very 

 seldom radically cured. There may be, however, and frequently is, a 

 difference of opinion as to the actual existence or character of the corn. 

 They are sometimes, too, so slight that they do not diminish the value 

 of the horse, and will disappear on the horse being shod with ordinary 

 skill and care, even without any alteration in tlie shoe. 



Cough. — This is a disease, and consequently unsoundness. However 

 slight may be its degree, and of whatever short standing it may be, 

 although it may sometimes scarcely seem to interfere with the useful- 

 ness of the horse, yet a change of stabling or slight exposure to wet 

 and cold, or the least over-exertion, may, at other times, cause it to de- 

 generate into many dangerous complaints. A horse, therefore, should 

 never be purchased with a cough upon him, without a special warranty ; 

 or if — the cough not being observed — he is purchased under a general 

 warranty, that warranty is thereby broken. It is not law, that a horse 

 may be returned on breach of the warranty. The seller is not bound 

 to take him back, unless he has contracted so to do; but he is liable 

 to damages. Lord Ellenborough has completely decided this matter. 

 "I have always held," said he, "that a warranty of soundness is broken, 

 if the animal, at the time of sale, had any infirmity upon him that ren- 

 dered him less fit for present service. It is not necessary that the dis- 

 order should be permanent or incurable. AVhile he has a cough, he is 

 unsound, although that may either be tempoi'ary or prove mortal." 



In deciding on another case, the same judge said, " I have always held 

 it that a cough is a breach of the wari-anty. On that understanding I 

 have always acted, and think it quite clear." It was argued on the 

 other hand that two-thirds of the horses in London had coughs, yet 

 still the judge maintained that the cough was a breach of warranty. 

 When it was farther argued that the horse had been hunted the day 

 after the purchase, and the cough might have been increased by this, 

 the reply was singular, but, decisive. "There is no proof that he would 

 have got well if he had not been hunted." 



Roaring, Wheezing, Whistling, High-blowing, and Grunting, being the re- 

 sult of alteration of structure, or disease in some of the air-passages, and 

 interfering with the perfect freedom of breathing, especially when the 

 horse is put on his speed, without doubt constitute unsoundness. There 

 are decisions to the contrary, which are now universally admitted to be 

 erroneous. Broken-wind is decidedly still more unsoundness. 



Crib-Biling. — Although some learned judges have asserted that crib- 

 biting is simply a trick or bad habit, it must be regarded as unsound- 

 ness. This unnatural sucking in of the air must, to a certain degree, 

 injure digestion. It must dispose to colic, and so interfere with the 

 strength, usefulness, and health of the horse. Some crib-biters are good 

 goers, but they probably would have possessed more endurance had 

 they not acquired this habit; and it is a fact well established that, as 

 soon as a horse becomes a crib-biter, he, in nine cases out of ten, loses 

 condition. In its very early stage it may be a mere trick — confirmed, 

 it must have produced moi'bid deterioration. The wear of the front 

 teeth, and the occasional breaking of them, make a horse old before 



