HOW TO BUY AND SELL. 15 



tributing certain alterations in the structure of animals to 

 the goodness of nature, rather than in questioning their 

 soundness when such alteration, instead of being detri- 

 mental, is for their benefit? 



Taking substantially, however, Professor Coleman's 

 comprehensive definition of warranty for my text, I will 

 proceed to give a list of the most usual causes for reject- 

 ing warranted horses; distinguishing those marks or pecu- 

 liarities which are really only blemishes from those which 

 do render the animal unsound; and, to make the work as 

 complete as possible, I will endeavor to make clear the 

 vices of the horse, with their attendant consequences. 



EXAMINATION. 



On the horse being led out of the stable, it is usual to 

 walk up to his withers to ascertain if he is of the required 

 height, as there is generally a difference between the ap- 

 parent measure in the stable and that taken out of doors, 

 arising from the want of level in the stall. 



Next, you should stand before the middle of the chest, 

 to see whether there is any difference in the size of the 

 two fore-feet. 



THE FEET. 



CONTRACTION. 



Contractions, whether arising from original malforma- 

 tion or from subsequent lameness, are by many pro- 

 nounced unsound. Others admit, where no inconven- 

 ience arises from a naturally small foot, that it does not 

 constitute an unsoundness. Why should feet naturally 



