106 
EXAMINATION OF HORSES. 
that the said gelding is perfectly free from spavins, and from lameness : but 
I observe a very considerable splent on the inside of his near foreleg, close 
to the knee joint, and his off fore foot is slightly contracted. The latter 
defects, I am of opinion, render him unsound. 
J. Turner, Veterinary Surgeon. 
Would or could any one suppose that these gentlemen had 
been examining the same horse ? u He has a slight defect in 
the off eye, which prevents him from being considered perfectly 
sound,” says Mr. Field. He describes not the nature of that 
defect, but he pronounces him unsound in consequence of it. 
It is the only cause of unsoundness in Mr. Field’s estimation. 
Mr. Turner sees nothing of the kind, nor do Messrs. Mavor, 
Langworthy, or Henderson, who examined the horse on the two 
following days. “ He has enlargement of the spavin place of 
both hocks, particularly the near,” says Mr. Field. u He is per- 
fectly free from spavins,” says Mr. Turner, whose attention had 
been particularly directed to this point. Neither of the other 
gentlemen says one word of the spavins. “ He has a thrush in 
the near hind foot.” Neither of the other four examiners have 
the least notion of this ; but “ he has a splent on each fore leg 
so says Mr. Turner, who condemns him as unsound, principally on 
this account. The existence of the splent is recognized by 
Messrs. Mavor and Henderson ; but it is declared to be of a very 
trifling nature by the latter of these gentlemen. 
“ I find him,” says Mr. Turner, “ perfectly free from spavins; 
but he has a very considerable splent on his near fore leg, and his 
off fore foot is slightly contracted, and on both of these accounts 
he is unsound.” Neither Messrs. Field, Mavor, Langworthy, 
nor Henderson, recognize the existence of this contraction, or the 
harm done by the splent. Mr. Turner, when questioned as to 
the splent, made his stand upon it, and regarded it as a fine spe- 
cimen of the kind of splent which must be injurious; neither of 
the other gentlemen could see any thing injurious in it. 
Now what shall we say of all this ? Could this have been the 
same horse, examined on the same day by the first two gentle- 
men, and within three days by all of them : 
Can such things be. 
And overcome us like a suminer’s cloud 
Without our special wonder ? 
