HEREDITAEY UNSOUNDNESS. 51 



disposition strongly marked, in the case of bog-spavins 

 and thorouglipins, the possession of either of which 

 aifections, if they were well developed, should be suffi- 

 cient cause for the immediate rejection of an animal 

 for breeding. Heavy entires, even with the best of 

 hocks, are, often, apt to get them puffy, on account of 

 straining them when covering. 



Bojie-sjMvin. — This should always be a disqualification, 

 unless, perhaps, in the somewhat rare case of its having 

 been caused by external injury. 



Broken ivind. 



Cataract. 



Contraction of the foot (see page 32). — The fact of one 

 foot being smaller than its fellow, especially, in the fore 

 limb, and if the difference of size be at all marked, 

 would be sufficient cause for the immediate rejection 

 of an animal for stud purposes. It goes without saying, 

 that any deformity of the part should be regarded in 

 the same light. 



Cu7'h. — The possession of a curb would always be of 

 serious detriment to the value of a stud animal, and, 

 especially, for breeding hunters, steeple-chasers, and 

 chargers. It might, however, be overlooked in a race- 

 . horse of exceptional speed and stamina, like, for instance, 

 St. Simon, who is faulty in this respect ; for, considering 

 the early age at which race-horses are put to work, we 

 Ought to be more lenient with them, than with animals 



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