VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS. 239 



unable to shake off even after a life's experience. And 

 therefore I consider it necessary, before taking leave of 

 this subject, to warn each of my readers, to consider, if 

 he is in the habit of getting more than his proper share 

 of falls in the hunting field, whether he rides the 

 proper description of horse for his country. 



VETERINARY EXAMINATIONS. 



In the purchase of horses a veterinary examination 

 is the greatest possible boon both to the buyer and 

 seller, when conducted on fair and honourable prin- 

 ciples ; but most commonly it is conducted on no prin- 

 ciple whatever, and becomes a source of litigation, 

 dispute, and loss to both parties, by upsetting a war- 

 ranty of soundness given by the seller. 



Horses are very frequently purchased warranted 

 sound, and prove sound, so far as all absence from lame- 

 ness, diseases, &c, is concerned ; but the purchaser of 

 the horse, feeling anxious from some cause about his 

 purchase, forthwith sends for his veterinary surgeon 

 — without having previously informed the seller of his 

 doubts and intentions — has the horse examined, and 

 the result is that the professional man, being over- 

 anxious to detect malformation, or a morbid tendency 

 somewhere, succeeds in his opinion in doing so, and 

 gives a certificate of the horse's unsoundness ; which 

 the purchaser immediately forwards to the seller, and, 

 on the strength of the veterinary surgeon's opinion 



