CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 123 



can be taken in. If curb is present, no matter 

 how slight, it is readily discernible, and there 

 should be no two opinions regarding its existence, 

 or otherwise. A horse purchased with a general 

 warranty, and found to have curb on arrival, can be 

 returned as unsound ; but it must be borne in mind 

 that a disease of this nature may make its appear- 

 ance within three or four days of purchase ; though 

 in this period, it would be of a very rudimentary 

 nature, and a well-developed curb, must be taken 

 as evidence of its existence for several months, 

 at least. Firing is frequently resorted to for the 

 removal of curb, so that there may be evidence 

 of this operation having been done, either in the 

 form of points, or as line firing. 



Thorough-pin. 



The term '' thorough-pin," or '' through-pin," is 

 applied to a swelling appearing at the back of the 

 hock, just in the hollow immediately above the 

 point of the hock, and as the enlargement can be 

 pressed from the inner to the outside, or vice versa, 

 the term is not an inappUcable one. All veterinary 

 surgeons regard it as constituting unsoundness, and 

 this is rather remarkable, considering that it rarely 

 interferes with the animal's utihty. One or both 



