108 
EXAMINATION OF HORSES. 
subject was comprised in half a lecture ; — now we believe that a 
lecture is devoted to it. Has no one seen the difference between 
regular systematic instruction, and snatches of knowledge hastily 
caught and imperfectly understood ? Has no one watched the 
different progress of two persons, one of whom was slowly and 
carefully and cautiously grounded in the principles which he 
studied ; while the other received only a few and irregular and 
confused gleams of light? Here is the root of the evil, and it has 
existed far too long. 
It would have taken some two or three lectures to have well 
grounded the pupil in the basis — the principle of soundness ; and 
it would have occupied many more to have applied this principle to 
the various organs and parts and diseases of our domesticated 
animals, and to have enabled the student to understand, in a 
general way, how far a deviation from natural structure and 
function involved unsoundness of constitution or unsoundness 
of action, and necessarily, or probably, or possibly, led to an 
incapability of performing the work, or arriving at the condition 
which we have a right to expect from them. The student is, 
in a manner, left to form his own opinion of what soundness or 
unsoundness actually is, and the application of the principle to 
the every-day affairs of his profession ; and then, instead of a 
Comprehensive view of the subject, and a comprehensive exami- 
nation, if we may use the phrase, of the animal submitted to his 
judgment, he acquires, or thinks that he acquires, a knowledge 
somewhat above his brethren on certain points and diseases. 
In consequence of this, his attention is not exclusively, but some- 
what too much, directed to these points ; and he sees, actually 
sees, certain minute defects which escape the observation of others; 
and he magnifies the molehill into a mountain ; or, he fancies 
that he sees that which exists only in his perverted fancy. Hence 
our discrepancies of opinion on the soundness or unsoundness of 
our patients — hence the woful exhibition which we sometimes 
make in a court of j ustice — hence the disgrace which we occasion- 
ally bring on the profession to which we belong. 
Another cause of the compromise which is so often made of 
the reputation, we had almost said the honour, of our profession, 
is the difference of opinion which is not only well known to exist 
