CHAPTER XIV 



UNSOUNDNESSES, BLEMISHES, AND VICES 



COMMON UNSOUNDNESSES 



An unsoundness is any affection which diminishes the useful- 

 ness of the animal either temporarily or permanently. The 

 three classes of unsoundnesses usually recognized in horses are: 



Acquired unsoundnesses, which appear after the animal is 

 born. 



Hereditary unsoundnesses, which are transmitted from parent 

 to offspring. 



Breeding unsoundnesses, which prevent a stallion from 

 impregnating the mare, or the mare from conceiving and deliver- 

 ing a riving, normal foal. 



When offered for public sale it is customary to classify horses 

 as sound, serviceably sound, and unsound. Sound horses are 

 warranted to be perfectly normal, although few can be found 

 that do not have some trivial defect or other. Serviceably 

 sound horses have at least one unsoundness but it is warranted 

 not to interfere with their utility. Great differences of opinion 

 exist as to what is meant by serviceable soundness on account 

 of the different standards of the examiner. Unsound horses are 

 diseased to such an extent that they are unable to render the 

 service expected of normal animals. 



Stallion laws exist in many states. The horseman should 

 familiarize himself with those of the various states in which he 

 does business. As Wisconsin was the first state to enact such 

 a law, that part of the text of the Wisconsin law regarding un- 

 soundnesses reads as follows: 



"The presence of any one of the following named diseases 

 shall disqualify a stallion or jack for public service: cataract; 

 amaurosis (glass eye); periodic ophthalmia (moon blindness); 

 laryngeal hemiplegia (roaring or whistling) ; pulmonary emphy- 

 sema (heaves, broken wind) ; chorea (St. Vitus' dance, crampiness, 



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