AS TO SOUNDNESS. a7 
Passing over the first division, in which six unmistakable 
diseases are enumerated, we come to the second division, 
which contains three. Grease affects the skin of the 
heels, but more often the hind ones. We frequently 
have it or cracked heels in the hollow of the heels of 
the fore extremities. If it is unmistakably present, 
‘of course the horse is for the time unsound. If, how- 
ever, the skin of the heels be swollen and only slightly 
cracked, or not cracked at all, if you can make out that 
jt is an attack of grease which threatens, the horse is 
for the time unsound, because work would aggravate the 
seemingly trivial disease ; therefore, before he would be 
fit to use he would require cooling medicine, and a horse 
actually requiring even so little as a dose of physic does 
not answer the definition of a sound horse. However 
you may regret having to reject such a one, you will 
either have to do so or give an opinion such as no 
law court would support you in. It is best in all 
temporary and easily removable cases of unsoundness 
to advise proper treatment, and ask to be allowed to 
prosecute your examination at the expiration of a spe- 
cified time, which you name. On no account ought you 
to give a certificate of soundness in these cases and trust 
to the purchaser or any other person to remove the 
temporary unsoundness and make your certificate good. 
It is a matter of daily experience of parties buying horses 
and regretting it within twenty-four hours. If they are 
really dishonest, they will even try and cripple the horse 
by “ beaning,” in order that they may return him. The 
