OBSERVATIONS ON WARRANTY. 121 



gentleman that had before refused him. He has since been 

 running some eight or ten years, apparently as sound as ever. 

 I doubt if one race-horse in a hundred would pass a strict veter- 

 inary examination ; for if nothing else would condemn them, 

 all horses that are trained go short, wanting the freedom 

 of action noticeable in carriage and other idle horses. A 

 veterinary surgeon cannot well pass them in such a state, 

 though there may not be, for racing purposes, the least thing 

 amiss with them. 



I have seen and known several curious cases in selling horses. 

 I once sold a thorough-bred horse for a hack for ^15, certainly 

 as far as I knew, one of the soundest horses in England, and 

 a few days after he became a confirmed roarer. My grand- 

 father once sold a horse for a small sum, and was asked by 

 the purchaser to allow him to remain for a few days ; to this 

 he assented, but jocosely remarked, "If he die in the night 

 he dies yours." This had so great an effect on the purchaser 

 that he went home and sent for him next morning ; but on 

 the arrival of the servant the horse was dead. My brother-in- 

 law had a young hunter, and sold him to a gentleman for 

 jC8o if he passed the veterinary examination. This ordeal 

 he was subjected to, and on account of an incipient spavin 

 refused. I was asked to look at his hock and did, but 

 failed to detect anything amiss with it. The late Professor 

 Spooner was called in and passed him sound in every 

 respect, and the gentleman took the horse, and as I never 

 heard of anything being wrong with him after, I imagine he 

 remained sound. 



A few days before J^oe Miller ran for the Ascot Cup, whilst 

 trotting in the paddock he went very lame. This so astonished 

 his owner that he begged of me not to gallop him ; but I 

 assured him he was never otherwise when in strong work, 



