324 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



soundness, it may not be uninteresting to those for 

 whom our work was designed, if we now bring into 

 one point of view the substance of that which has been 

 scattered over many pages. 



Tiiat horse is sound in whom there is no disease, 

 nor any alteration of structure in any part which im- 

 pairs, or is hkely to impair, his natural usefulness. 

 That horse is unsound that labours under disease, or 

 that has some alteration of structure that does interfere, 

 or is likely to interfere, with his natural usefulness. 

 The term " natural usefulness " must be borne in 

 mind. One horse may possess great speed, but is 

 soon knocked up ; another will work all day, but can- 

 not be got beyond a snail's pace ; one with a heavy 

 forehead is liable to stumble, and is continually putting 

 to hazard the neck of his rider ; another with an irri- 

 table constitution and a washy make, loses his appetite, 

 and begins to scour if a little extra work is exacted 

 from him. 



The term unsoundness cannot be applied to either 

 of these ; it would be opening far too widely a door 

 for 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 he should try him sufficiently to ascer- 

 tain his natural strength, endurance, and manner 

 of going. Unsoundness, we repeat, has reference only 

 to disease, or to that alteration of structure which is 

 connected with or will produce disease, and lessen the 

 usefulness of the animal. 



These principles will be best illustrated by a brief 

 consideration of the usual supposed causes of un- 

 soundness : — 



Broken Knees. — Capped Hocks. — Contraction of the 

 Foot. — Coins. — Cough. — Roaring. — Wheezing. — 



