LIMITS OF PKOFESSIONAL DUTIES. 253 



Having now made a thorough examination of the 

 horse, it will be the duty of the person conducting the 

 examination to state in plain and decided language 

 whether he considers the horse sound or the reverse ; 

 and if not sound what constitutes his unsoundness. If 

 it be lameness, it should be distinctly stated, not only 

 where it exists, but what in his opinion is the cause of 

 it, in order that the purchaser may judge of whether he 

 considers the lameness to arise from trivial causes ; for 

 I once recollect a horse being rejected as unsound from 

 lameness produced from soreness of the pasterns from 

 cracked heels. 



Many veterinary surgeons object to incurring the 

 responsibility of passing a horse sound if sent to ex- 

 amine him when labouring under an attack of simple 

 catarrh, however slight, and when the feet are rather 

 warm, and so on ad nauseam. 



The best and most straightforward plan to adopt 

 under these circumstances, is undoubtedly to pass the 

 horse sound — save and except temporary unfitness for 

 examination — and to leave the consideration of the 

 matter in the hands of the purchaser. And if he elect 

 to run the risk of catarrh or warm feet, he has only 

 himself to blame or thank as the case may prove. 



But, of all things, the person conducting the exami- 

 nation merely as to soundness, should be careful never 

 to say anything detrimental of the horse's action, power, 

 temper, or general suitability to the purchaser. 



The matter in hand is soundness ; and as far as the 

 professional man departs from the matter in hand, so 



