244 THE HIGHLY GIFTED PROFESSOR. 



The same thing applies to thorough pins, contracted 

 feet, &c., neither of which can be causes of unsoundness, 

 when free from inflammation and disease. 



For I apprehend that general usefulness is the great 

 desideratum to the purchaser. 



And here the real talent of the highly gifted practi- 

 tioner stands forth as a beacon of safety. Repeatedly 

 have I heard some talented professional men, when 

 called upon to give an opinion on the soundness or 

 general usefulness of horses with suspensory liga- 

 ments sprung and as large as walnuts, as well as 

 horses with large unsightly curbs, but nevertheless 

 sound and callous, pronounce them sound, giving as 

 their reason the entire absence of inflammation, on 

 which lameness depends, and urge their employers to 

 become possessed of them. 



This is the kind of advice which is truly valuable 

 when it can be procured, and it proved almost a mine 

 of silver to a gentleman of my acquaintance in one 

 instance. 



This is what horsemen especially desire to be in- 

 formed of; viz., under what circumstances they may 

 reasonably hope to make use of their horse's services 

 without a great risk of his becoming lame and incapa- 

 citated for work. And the professional man who is 

 competent to give this advice is the man whom the 

 sporting public should cordially patronise ; for they will 

 rarely find that, through taking the advice of such a 

 man, they have purchased an animal incapacitated for 

 work ; and, what is of still more importance, because it 



