16 SOUNDNESS. 



nionly deemed most essential in the formation of 

 a good useful horse. I must now proceed to 

 speak of the proper method of examining him 

 for disease. But first, a few words on the nature 

 of soundness, unsoundness, and the laws relating 

 to warranty. 



Soundness. 



At first view it seems easy enough to define a 

 sound horse. It may be said that a horse is 

 sound, when every part of him is in perfect 

 health : but, upon further consideration, it will 

 appear, that such a definition would be of little 

 or no practical utility; for scarcely a seven year 

 old in the kingdom could be fairly said to answer 

 to it. The most trifling splent, or even a wart, 

 no matter how small, or where placed, are devia- 

 tions from health, and would make a horse unfit to 

 be warranted, if such a definition of the term sound 

 were to be adopted. It must therefore be quali- 

 fied in order to be useful, and that the buyer and 

 seller may be placed upon something like an 

 equal footing. This, however, is not so easily 

 done, for a horse is liable to several trifling dis- 



