SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 489 



but the existence of disease of one kind or another 

 can in justice be so considered. I think the defini- 

 tion most likely to be generally useful, and most 

 impartial to both buyer and seller, is this: — A 

 horse is sound when there is no disease about any 

 part of him, that renders, or is likely in future to 

 render, him less useful than he would be without 

 it ; and, of course, a horse must be unsound when 

 he has any disease about him, that renders, or is 

 likely in future to render, him less useful than he 

 would be without it." 



On the question, What do you consider consti- 

 tutes a sound horse l being put to Mr. Mavor, of 

 New Bond Street, London, a veterinary surgeon of 

 great practical experience, (See Horseman s Manual^ 

 p. 9,) his answer was — " I consider a horse to be 

 sound which is perfect in structure, and perfect in 

 f unction. "" 



" I also consider a horse to be sound, though 

 with alteration in the structure, provided he has 

 never been either lame or incapacitated (and is not 

 likely to become lame and incapacitated) from per- 

 forming the ordinary duties to which he may be 

 subjected in consequence of such alteration, and 

 can perform them with equal facility as if there 

 had been no such alteration of structure." 



We heartily concur in both these definitions of 

 soundness ; and our own opinion of a sound horse 

 is comprehended in a few words. If a horse be free 

 from disease, and from any alteration of structure, 

 attended with interruption to, or impairment of, 

 function, it matters not how much soever he may 



