158 THE HOKSE BOOK. 



refused in France — periodic oplithalmia, or 

 moonblindness, and thick wind. The French 

 names for these unsoundnesses are ^^ fluxion 

 periodique'' and ^^cornage." 



Stallions are not permitted to serve mares 

 owned by others than their proprietors unless 

 they have been examined and certified as free 

 from these troubles by a board of veterinarians 

 appointed by the government. Any one who 

 stands for public service a stallion that has not 

 been approved, authorized or certified is liable 

 to fine, and the owners of mares using such a 

 horse may also be prosecuted and punished. 

 There is nothing in the law to prevent a breeder 

 using any sort of an unsound stallion to his own 

 mares. When a stallion has been examined 

 and pronounced free from the unsoundnesses 

 named he is branded on the neck under the 

 mane with a five-pointed star. When certifica- 

 tion is withheld on account of the horse failing 

 to pass the veterinary ordeal he is branded 

 under the mane with the letter R, which stands 

 for the French word ^* refuse" — refused. The 

 five-pointed star and the letter R are the only 

 brands placed on horses by the French govern- 

 ment. In France draft colts cannot stand for 

 public service until they are over thirty months 

 of age. 



Certification of freedom from moonblind- 

 ness and thick wind is granted for one year 

 only. Each stallion designed for public service 



