AS TO "SOUNDNESS" 



unimportant ways, practical soundness being 

 good enough. 



When does a " coarse " hock become a " spav- 

 ined " hock ? What constitutes a "well-placed" 

 splint ? Shall a horse always be " turned down " 

 for side-bones when his work is to be on soft 

 ground, if he is not lame at the time and is eight 

 or ten years old ; bearing in mind that many a 

 horse is, although thus afflicted, working on city 

 " rocks " and going sound ? Shall a " properly 

 placed " ( ! ) ringbone always disqualify ? Shall 

 curbs condemn, without regard to age, the shape 

 of the leg and the manner of shoeing? Shall 

 "wire cuts" be considered as to possible future 

 effect, etc. ? These and dozens of other matters 

 might well be settled officially by our veterinary 

 societies, and a full and free discussion of them 

 courted both from the professional and the 

 amateur, the buyer's and the seller's stand- 

 point. 



Considering the most common forms of un- 

 soundness, from the practical standpoint of the 

 consumer, not from the technical position of 

 the veterinarian, the matter of splints occupies 

 the first place. The following points must be 

 considered in deciding as to the practical useful- 



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