CERTIFICATES. 709 



Modifying Circumstances. 



In deciding on the importance of any defect, apart from its own 

 gravity, take into consideration the purpose for which the animal 

 is intended ; the work he has been doing ; his age ; and any signs 

 of former treatment which he may show. Thus, a splint, in the 

 case of a four-year-old which had evidently been idle for some time, 

 and was intended for fast harness work, should be regarded far 

 more seriously than a similar one on the leg of an aged, heavy 

 cart-horse which had been, up to the date of examination, in 

 constant employment between the shafts ; supposing that no lame- 

 ness was present. 



Again, when examining a horse, if we found his feet somewhat 

 flat, and the frogs unusually large ; the fact of the hoofs having 

 been carefully filed, with the probable view of making them appear 

 smooth and upright, might fairly influence us in rejecting the 

 animal, on account of his presumed liability to fever in the feet. 

 If he had also been bled from the coronet, or jugular vein, our 

 doubt would be still further strengthened. Roughness of the hair 

 over the back tendons and suspensory ligament, as indicating the 

 application, on some previous occasion, of a blister, ought to 

 redouble our attention as to the state of the underlying structures. 



Duties of Veterinary Surgeons when Examining 



Horses. 



A veterinary surgeon, when examining a horse, should confine 

 himself to his own province, and be careful to refrain from volun- 

 teering his opinion as to conformation, action, suitability to the 

 purpose required, or any other matter, about which he is not pro- 

 fessionally concerned. The position is of course altered, if the 

 employer seeks the practitioner's advice on any particular point, or 

 puts himself entirely in his hands. The veterinary surgeon, how- 

 ever, might with propriety, mention to his client any vices the 

 horse showed, while the examination was being conducted ; 

 although he would notice in his certificate, only those that might 

 affect the animal's soundness ; omitting, of course, such vices as 

 buckjumping, jibbing, and rearing, for example. 



Certificates. 



A certificate should, for purposes of identification, clearly 

 describe the horse which has been examined ; state his age, and all 



