42 HORSE DOCTOR. 



difference of opinion as to the actual existence or clia- 

 racter of the corn. A veterinary surj^eon may consider 

 it so slight and insignificant as not apparently to injure 

 the horse, and he pronounces the animal to be sound ; 

 but he should be cautious, for there are corns of every 

 shade and degree, from the slightest degree to the most 

 serious evil. They may be so slight and manageable 

 as, though ranging under the class of morbid alteration 

 of structure, yet not to diminish the natural usefulness 

 of the horse in any degree. Slight corns will disappear 

 on the horse being shod with ordinary skill and care, 

 even without any alteration in the shoe. 



COUGH. 



This is a disease, and consequently unsoundness. 

 However slight may be its degree, and of whatever short 

 standing it may be, although it may sometimes scarcely 

 seem to interfere with the usefulness of the horse, yet a 

 change of stabling, or shght exposure to wet and cold, 

 or the least over-exertion, may, at other times, cause it 

 to degenerate into many dangerous complaints. A 

 horse, therefore, should never be purchased with a cough 

 upon him, without a special warranty ; or if — the cough 

 not being observed — he is purchased under a general 

 warranty, that warranty is thereby broken. It is not 

 law, that a horse may be returned on breach of the war- 

 ranty. The seller is not bound to take him back, unless 

 'he has contracted so to do ; but he is liable in damages. 



ROARING. WHEKZING, WHISTLING, HIGH-RLOWING, 

 AND GRUNTING; 



BeinfT the result of alterarion of structure, or disease in 

 some of the air-passages, and interfering with the perfect 

 freedom of breathing, especially when the horse is put 

 on his speed, without doubt constitute unsoundness. 

 There are decisions to the contrary, which are nov/ uni- 

 versally admitted to be erroneous. 



Broken- wind is still more decidedly unsoundness. 



