104 
EXAMINATION OF HORSES. 
duty, has been anxious and systematically worked to cramp and 
limit its bounds and scope, so that the public may not detect that 
want of due preparation which ought never to have existed ; but 
what is the veterinary surgeon now called upon to give his 
opinion about ? What is he anxious to confine his examination 
to ? The powers and qualities, and probable adaptation of the 
horse for certain uses? No: but his mere freedom from disease 
— his soundness or unsoundness. 
If we alter our relative situations in life, is this all that we, be- 
coming purchasers of horses, should like to get out of our veteri- 
nary friend ? No, no ! We should be a little disappointed, and 
somewhat angry too, if, being asked whether he thought the 
horse would suit us for certain purposes for which we wanted 
him, he were to turn upon his heel, and say, “ Why, really, I 
must decline to answer that question — that is not my province — 
I see no unsoundness about the hoTse, and I have nothing more 
to say.” That is the course which many veterinarians pursue, 
and they argue stoutly that they are right. It was deficient 
veterinary education— it was the consciousness of not having 
added the knowledge of the horseman to the science of the vete- 
rinary surgeon, that first led to this ; and they will be more use- 
ful, and more esteemed, and more employed, when the root of 
this evil is removed. 
This, however, is not the point immediately pressing. It is 
ignorance and incapability of discharging that part of his duty, 
for which the veterinary surgeon must acknowledge that he 
ought to be in every point prepared, that is the crying sin now im- 
periously forced upon our attention. Disease he ought to be able 
to recognize in all its forms and in all its bearings, and particu- 
larly its bearing on the usefulness of the horse. Generally 
speaking, no appeal should be able to lie against his opinion 
on these points. There should not be the possibility of a tan- 
gible point of unsoundness being overlooked, or of a disease 
which has no existence being conjured up to the annoyance of 
the intended purchaser, or to the injury of the seller. 
Now, in the present state of veterinary practice, has the person 
who consults the veterinary surgeon this security ? has the seller 
