Report of the Stewards of Stock at the Worcester Shotn. 471 
" Class XLTX. (Stallions). — One entry and that not first-class. 
" Class L. (Two-year-old Stallions). — A fair class, but we have seen much 
better. 
" Class LI. (Mare and Foal). — But one shown, Sir Edward Kerrison's 
' Brapig ;' she was very good. 
" Class LIT. (Two-year-old Filly). — The first and second prize takers, Mv. 
J. Ward's ' Briton filly ' and Mr. W. Biddell's ' May Bird,' very good ; but the 
remainder very moderate." 
Professor Varnell thus reports upon the soundness of the Horse 
classes : — 
" I cannot refrain from congratulating the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England on the success of its efforts to exhibit horses free from diseases, and 
more especially those of an hereditary nature. I find from a comparison 
with the reports of the state of soundness of horses in previous years, that the 
percentage of disease of this character is very much reduced. Taking the 
horses as a whole, 1 have not been able to detect more than 6 per cent, that 
are affected with diseases of a serious nature, or such as in my opinion are 
liable to be transmitted to their offspring;. These affections consist chiefly of 
' roaring,' ' whistling,' ophthalmia,' ' ossified lateral cartilages,' ' ringbones,' and 
* spavins.' Osseous dejiosits upon the legs, termed ' splints,' are, as most likely 
they always will be, much more numerous than the other afl'ections alluded 
to ; but, nevertheless, they are of minor importance. A tendency to certain 
afflictions, such as 'curbs,' thickened tendons and ligaments, arising from 
defective conformation, exist in a few instances ; while lesions of an analogous 
kind, together with bursal diseases of the joint (chiefly in aged horses) are 
more numerous. 
" Among the Thoroughbreds, only 2 cases of roaring were observed, and 
there were only 2 horses whose limbs wore affected with spavin and curb, 
sufficient to disqualify them from competition. In the Hnnter and Hackney 
Classes, I found only 2 roarers; but diseases such as splints, spavins, and 
bursal afiections, were prevalent. • It is gratifying to observe that the hunters 
are remarkably free from disease. No case of defective respiration was noticed, 
and their legs and feet, as a rule, were very sound. In the Agricultural Stallion 
Classes, I detected only 1 roarer ; and although cases of ossified lateral carti- 
lages, tiat forc-feet, and bursal diseases of the hock-joints existed, still they 
seem not very numerous. Among the Dray Stallions there was only 1 case of 
roaring, and with the exception of 2 or 3 cases of flat feet (a tendency which 
it is highly desirable to get ind of by careful selection both of sire and dam), 
these horses are free from disease of an hereditary nature. The Suffolk 
stallions are also very free from disease, and their feet, to which objections 
have been r^sed on former occasions, are very good. I would, however, direct 
the attention of breeders to the smallness of the fore-legs of these horses below 
the knee. With reference to the Ponies, their exemption generally from disease 
of au hereditary nature renders it imnecessary that I should further allude to 
them. I may be permitted, howeveu» to express my opinion that the absence 
of disease as atTecting the horses exhibited at the Society's Sleeting, during the 
last year or two, and this year in particular, is in a great measure to be attri- 
buted to the examinations instituted by a local Veterinary Surgeon previous to 
their being admitted into the Show-yard ; and I feel persuaded that if this 
system is encouraged, still greater improvements will be effected. Several 
cases of colic took j^lace among the Cart-horses, owing, I have no doubt, to 
the large amount of tares that are given to them. I would suggest to the 
Society, that the quantity allowed to each horse daily should be reduced on 
future occasious." 
