FOR PEACE AND WAR. 109 



CHAPTER VIII. 



It is apparent to the trained reader, that the production ul' 

 these pages evince anything but an attempt at concisi' 

 book-making; as the thoughts arise they have been jotted 

 down without any regularity or order, not at all in the hope 

 of making a well ordered little volume, but with the inten- 

 tion of getting rid of something the writer very badly 

 wanted to say. This may be accepted as an explanation 

 why I have introduced matter not directly applying to the 

 main feature of the book, though somewhat pertinent 

 thereto. 



A vexed question, that has had much valuable ventilation 

 in that excellent country gentleman's journal. The Field, 

 recently, is that of horse-warranty and horse examinations. 

 I have before said a word or two on the subject of sound- 

 ness, and I do not like to omit my views as to examinations 

 by Veterinary Surgeons. What is it a buyer wants ? A 

 sound horse! What is a sound horse? He must be 

 ])hysically capable of discharging the duties, well and con- 

 tinuously for a reasonable time, for which he has been 

 selected with a view to purchase. Ought not that to be all 

 that a buyer should require ? But, is it so ? Certainly it 

 is not ! There are some Veterinary Surgeons with sufficient 

 common sense and good feeling to recommend horses that 

 in their professional capacity they cannot give a " clean 



