HOW TO RUT \ND SETT. A HORSE. 265 



to suit his purpose, and he should tiy nirr sufficiently to ascertain his 

 natural strength, endurance, arfi mannei L>f going. Unsoundness, we 

 repeat, has reference only to disease, j.- *^^o that alt ration of structure 

 which is connected with, or will produce d'>eat>:. anc ■es^in the usefulness 

 of the animal," 



1. — ''Broken-Knees certainly do not constitute unsound'. ess after the 

 wounds are healed, unless they interfere with the action al the joint, for 

 the horse may have fallen from mere accident, or through tha fault of the 

 rider ; but no person would buy a horse with broken knees until he had 

 thoroughly tried him, and satisfied himself as to his form and action. 



2. — '' Capped- Ilocks may be produced by lying on an unevenly-paved 

 stable with a scanty supply of litter, or by kicking, in neither of which cases 

 would they constitute unsoundness, though in the latter they would be an 

 indication of vice ; but in the majority of instances, they are either the 

 consequence of sprain of the hock, and accompanied by enlargement of it, 

 when they would be unsoundness. A special warranty should always be 

 taken against cap[)ed-hocks. 



3. — ''Contraction is a considerable deviation from the natural form of 

 the foot, but not necessarily constituting unsoundness ; it requ. es, however, 

 most careful examination on the part of the purchaser )r veterinary 

 surgeon, to ascertain that there is no heat about the quarter, or ossifica- 

 tion of the cartilage ; that the frog, although diminished in size, is not 

 diseased ; that the horse does not step short and go as if the foot wen 

 tender, and that there is not the slightest trace of lameness. 



4. — " Corns manifestly constitute unsoundness. The portion of the fool 

 in which they are situated will not bear the ordinary pressure of the shoe ; 

 and any accidental additional presure from the growing down of the horn, 

 01' the introduction of dirt or gravel, will cause serious lameness. 



5. — "Cough. — This is a disease, and consequently unsoundness. A 

 horse, therefore, should never be purchased with a cough upon him 

 without an especial warranty ; or, if the cough not being observed, 

 he is purchased under a general warranty, he may be returned as soon 

 as it is discovered. 



6. — "Boaring, Wheezing, Wliistling, High-blowing^ and Grunting, 

 being the result of alteration of structure or disease in some of the air 

 passages, and interfering with the perfect freedom of breathing, and 

 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 may be regarded as 

 still more decidedlv unsoundness. 



