648 
COMMUNICATION 
From J. Hawthorn, M.K.C.V.S., Kettering. 
To the Editors of the ‘ Veterinarian 
Sirs, — -Your kindly notice of a trifling communication 
which I sent to the Veterinarian at the beginning of the year 
has reminded me that I promised a few more cases. I there- 
fore venture to send the following. 
To the veterinary establishment in Camden Town I shall 
always feel myself highly indebted, and I entertain great 
respect for the memory of Professor Coleman, my late 
teacher, and shall be very happy at any time to contribute 
to the amusement, to say nothing about the improvement of 
the profession. 
The first communication I shall entitle 
“Too much Science.” 
Some years ago one of my employers sold a horse as a 
hunter for the handsome sum of <£120. He was a good 
fencer, and could gallop pretty well, but had no breeding. 
In the course of two or three weeks the seller had notice of a 
return on account of a corn, and consequent unsoundness. 
He therefore wished me to go with him to see the horse, 
and make some arrangement, telling me he could not take 
him back again, as it would be inconvenient to return the 
money, and further stated that he knew of no corn existing 
at any time. I met the veterinary surgeon called in by the 
buyer, and had the horse trotted out. He went sound. I 
next tried the heels with pincers and with a hammer, but 
there was no tenderness or flinching. His shoes were then 
removed, and with some difficulty a small spot was dis- 
cernible where a slight extravasation of blood had taken 
place, and this was the corn . I said it did not deserve the 
name, and I would engage that every second horse in the 
stable should show as much ; but, however, I was questioned 
in this way — Was not an extravasation of blood between the 
bar and crust a corn? Could any veterinary surgeon say 
on oath this horse had not a corn? and could I say the slight 
corn he had would not make him more liable to have a worse 
corn than if all was perfectly right? Of course I was obliged 
to say he had a corn ; but it ought not to be called an un- 
soundness. 
