132 CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 



horses will grunt when they are perfectly sound. 

 Again, grunting is sometimes observed in pleurisy, 

 being in this case due to pain. Quite recently the 

 writer attended a horse that had an attack of 

 pleurisy, and the most significant sign was that of 

 grunting when the animal was compelled to move 

 or the slightest feint made to strike it. When in 

 health this horse was absolutely sound in its wind. 

 Veterinarians look upon grunting as significant 

 of nervousness in some cases. But it must be 

 borne in mind that it is one of the cardinal signs 

 indicative of " roaring," and any horse that grunts 

 under a threat to strike it, must be thoroughly 

 tested with respect to soundness of wind, for other- 

 wise trouble may arise. In a recent case, a 

 buyer brought an action against a veterinary 

 surgeon for having passed a horse as sound which 

 grunted, but it was argued by the counsel for the 

 plaintiff that grunting was significant that the 

 animal was unsound in its wind, and that it was 

 present at the time of sale ; and further that the 

 veterinary surgeon employed by plaintiff to exa- 

 mine the animal did not exercise ordinary pro- 

 fessional skill during the course of his examination. 

 Expert evidence was given by witnesses on both 

 sides as to the pathological significance of this 



