SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 
635 
Still the dealers saw the speck, and persisted in refusing to 
purchase. It is not so when they wish to sell — then these 
little things are of no moment. This disease also requires to 
be well looked into. 
Your correspondent, Mr. Hawthorne, speaks of enlargement 
of the spermatic cord. Having had a good many cases of 
schirrous cord, I perhaps may be permitted to refer to them. 
When a case is brought to me for treatment I cast the 
animal, detach the integuments and membranes from the 
cord, and remove the cord as high up as I can, while an 
assistant holds back the scrotum. This I do with a knife : 
after which, I sear the blood-vessels. Up to the present 
time I have always succeeded in closing the scrotum, which 
is a proof, I think, that the cord must either have been 
absorbed or become so schirrous that no pus was formed by 
the vessels ; and this being the case, the parts are to be con- 
sidered as healthy or cured. I must conclude these im- 
perfectly written remarks by earnestly calling upon the 
profession to take steps in such a direction as will afford us 
isolated veterinarians an opportunity of referring to some 
work upon the subject of soundness and unsoundness in 
horses ; by which means we shall be in a position to satisfy 
our clients in matters of doubt and difficulty. One would 
imagine that in London it would be easy to collect together 
a number of gentlemen for the purpose of compiling or 
framing those laws we stand so much in need of. If the 
subject is taken up with spirit, I have no doubt ere long our 
desires will be satisfied. 
PROPOSAL TO FORM A COMMITTEE FOR THE 
CONSIDERATION OF THE QUESTION OF 
SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS. 
By T. D. Gregory, M.R.C.Y.S., Bideford. 
I am delighted to see our friend Mr. Hawthorne has not 
allowed, nor does he with others intend to allow, the im- 
portant subject of the warranty of horses and their unsound- 
ness to remain in statu quo. It redounds much to his honour 
that, unlike many of our brethren who have retired from 
the active duties of professional life, he is not satisfied to 
enjoy the Dolce far niente . Mr. Hawthorne regrets that 
Mr. Dickens, myself, and other practical members of the 
veterinary profession, have not written more upon the sub- 
