90 CERTIFICATES GIVEN BY VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
This was done, and the nobleman took back the horse on a certifi- 
cate as follows : — 
“ I certify I have examined a brown stallion sent here by Lord 
, and that he is unsound, being a roarer. 
“ D. E.” 
Ten years ago the following certificate was put before me, and I 
was requested by the gentleman who had paid for it to inform 
him whether it meant “ sound or unsound.” 
“ I hereby certify that I have this day examined a bay gelding 
sent here by Mr. , and am not aware of any unsoundness 
about the said gelding, but observe that he has a scar on the inside 
of each coronet of the fore feet, occasioned by cutting — a blemish 
above the off knee — splents on the near fore leg — and prominent 
hocks in the spavin places : these do not, however, occasion in- 
convenience in his action. He is five years old. 
“ A. B.” 
T knew not what to answer, and, I think it would puzzle any 
practitioner in our profession, or in the legal one either, to define its 
meaning satisfactorily. 
The following certificate, coming from such authority, about a 
horse in dispute, I cannot omit publishing, as it gives the opinion 
of our late Professor : — 
“Royal Veterinary College, April 22, 1836. 
“ Sir, — I am directed by Professor Coleman to say, that he never 
has and never will give a certificate of the soundness of a horse ; 
but your’s is not lame. 
“ I am, your’s respectfully, 
“ W. J. T. Morton.” 
If it were necessary, I could produce a great number of certifi- 
cates that would only prove by their discrepancies the fact, that 
two veterinary surgeons are seldom to be found pronouncing the 
same opinion about the same horse : the only part of the certificate 
that is intelligible is too often, as I can prove, erroneous ; I allude 
to the definite statement as to age, and those who really know the 
“ horse’s mouth ” are aware of the liability to make mistakes on 
this point. This subject has really become one that occupies con- 
siderable discussion daily amongst horsemen, and for the credit of 
the profession I should much like to see a better understanding as 
to what is to be considered by us “ sound or unsound.” It cer- 
tainly cannot enhance the character of our now corporate body to 
have A, B, and C, all varying in material points as to the soundness 
of the same horse examined by them on the same day. 
