EXAMINATION OF HORSES. 
105 
this defence? or, rather, are not the prepossessions, the preju- 
dices, the theories of different practitioners, with regard to cer- 
tain points about the soundness of the horse, so notorious, that to 
take an animal for examination to two different veterinary sur- 
geons, is to ensure two almost utterly different opinions ? 
There has been a lamentable case of this lately. In the action 
Wolfe v. Elmore, the most strangely discordant opinions were 
given as to the soundness or unsoundness of a certain horse. 
The present article would be too much lengthened if the whole 
history of this business were entered into. Professor Sewell’s 
first examination of him in September presents a long list of 
very serious defects. There is not the detail of slight alter- 
ations of structure, and petty defects, which the eye of that 
gentleman is so quick in discovering, and which sometimes should 
not be dwelt upon when every thing else is right. Most of those 
which he mentions in his certificate, if existing, were real defects, 
and the existence of which could not consist with soundness. 
The object of the writer will be too well answered, if the atten- 
tion of the reader is limited to the examination of the same horse 
three months afterwards, and on the same day, by Messrs. Field 
and Turner. These gentlemen stand deservedly high in the 
opinion of their professional brethren, and of the public. The 
writer of this essay has long associated with them both, and 
will yield to no one in high estimation of their veterinary acquire- 
ments, and deep feeling of their personal worth. 
These are their certificates, and the horse was examined by 
both of them on the same day : — 
224, Oxford Street, Dec. 1. 
I hereby certify that I have this day examined a grey gelding, sent here 
for Mr. Yates, and observe that he has a slight defect in the off eye, which 
prevents him from being considered perfectly sound; a splent on each fore 
leg ; enlargement of the spavin place of both hocks, particularly the near, 
and a thrush in the near hind foot ; but these do not at present occasion 
inconvenience in his action. He is about 9 years old. 
J. Field, Vet. Surgeon. 
311, Regent Street, Dec. 1. 
I hereby certify that I have this day examined a grey gelding, sent here 
by Mr. Elmore, particularly with regard to his hocks, and am of opinion 
VOL. X. P 
