32 THE STUD 



than they are ; on the contrary', I would wish 

 them to be so worded as to be more binding on 

 the seller in a projier way. But I most decidedly 

 object to a man being harassed, annoyed, and pro- 

 bably prosecuted after he has sold an animal that 

 he conscientiously believed, and had good reason 

 to believe, to be a sound one at the time of sale, 

 because the purchaser is unfortunate enough to 

 find him sick or lame after he has got him ; a 

 circumstance that very probably no professional 

 skill, no human foresight, had reason to prog- 

 nosticate. 



There are few men placed in more difficult 

 situations than professional men, when called to 

 examine a horse between buyer and seller ; for it 

 must be borne in mind, that, in taking their opi- 

 nion, we do not take it as to whether the horse is 

 one that they would buy for their own use, or 

 recommend others to buy, so far as relates to his 

 being sound, or the probability of his remaining 

 so : we only ask if he is sound or unsound at the 

 time being. If, therefore, the animal has no ail- 

 ment at the time, or shows any evident signs of 

 something that will shortly render him so, the 

 examiner must, in justice to the seller, pass his 

 horse sound. Still there may be a something about 

 the horse that, in the private opinion of the pro- 

 fessional, is not likely to stand long the test of 

 work. Yet it would not do to refuse Dassinsr a 



J. o 



