632 
SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 
his concluding sentence exhibits as to poison? “At all 
events, as I cannot find the poison, it is useless to speak of 
chances.” There is not a shadow of doubt on my mind 
but that the inflammation and death of the horses in ques- 
tion were caused by something in the medicine given, 
whether Mr. Herapath could find it or not, and not by the 
cold water. 
John Kent. 
To Mr. Huggins. 
ON SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 
By R. H. Dyer, M.R.C.V.S., Waterford. 
In the last volume of the Veterinarian , page 648, an article 
headed “Too much Science,” appeared from the pen of a 
gentlemen well known to most of your readers, viz., Mr. J. 
Hawthorn, Y.S. of Kettering. It contains many useful and 
practical remarks with reference to a most important branch 
of our profession — “ Soundness” &c. 
This letter was succeeded by one from Mr. S. D. Gregory, 
of Biddeford, whose cases are very interesting and much 
to the purpose ; particularly Case i, subject, “ Splint” 
The next writer is Mr. Charles Dickens, of Kimbolton, 
whose letter is chiefly occupied with remarks upon a consul- 
tation between himself and Mr. Hawthorn. This gentleman 
relates, however, a case of value to us “Yets.;” but I cannot 
exactly see that a veterinary surgeon can be employed in the 
same way as an agent or broker in the purchase of land. 
There is in respect to horse-flesh something different to most 
other things offered for sale. It is somewhat difficult to 
convey one’s ideas upon a sheet of paper, as to what is really 
this difference, but there is a difference to all intents and 
purposes. In the first place, every person who knows a 
horse from a cow, thinks he is wise in everything concerning 
horses. Even a boy of twelve years old, if he has ridden a 
pony a few miles upon the road, or a young man who has 
ridden a few times over a country, and has been so fortu- 
nate as not to break a bone, if he can call his steed his own, 
commands his groom to do his bidding in the stable, and 
pays his farrier’s bill. These things will certainly cause 
such a tyro to imagine he is a perfect horseman, as well as 
learned in everything relating to horses, not even excepting 
the manifold diseases to which the horse is liable. 
