EXAMINATION OF HOUSES. 
109 
between the heads of the College on the principle of soundness, 
but the almost systematic eagerness with which that difference of 
opinion is forced on the pupil and the public. Mr. Coleman 
regards unsoundness to consist in that alteration of structure and 
function which interferes, or is likely so to do, with the duty and 
usefulness of the animal. Mr. Sewell considers almost every al- 
teration of structure as unsoundness. To such extent is this 
carried, that the advocates of these respective doctrines often 
cannot agree as to the plainest matter of fact. A mare was re- 
turned, on a certificate of Mr. Sewell that she was lame in the 
fetlock — she had ossification there. Messrs. James Turner, and 
Charles Turner, and Mavor, and Howard, said that nothing was 
the matter with the fetlock, but that she was perfectly sound. 
So contradictory was the evidence, that the judge ordered Messrs. 
Sewell, and Mavor, and Turner, to go into the court-yard and 
examine her again. On their return Mr. Sewell affirmed that 
the fetlock joint was still enlarged. Mr. Turner said that in his 
opinion the fetlock joint was not enlarged ; and Mr. Mavor ex- 
claimed, in a pet, that there was no enlargement at all. The 
whole court was convulsed with laughter. 
So here, “ the grey gelding,” says Mr. Field, “has splents 
and spavins, and a thrush, but they don’t hurt him. He is un- 
sound in the eye.” “ I beg your pardon,” says Mr. Turner. 
“There is nothing the matter with his eye, nor has he any thing 
at all like spavins; but he presents a beautiful specimen of un- 
soundness from splent, and he has a contracted heel.” “You 
are both wrong, gentlemen,” says Mr. Mavor : “ I acknowledge 
that he has splents, but they are of no consequence, and in my 
opinion he is quite sound.” “The splents are mere trifles,” 
says Mr. Henderson :” he is sound enough.” “There is nothing 
at all the matter with him,” exclaims Mr. Langworthy; “he is as 
sound as a roach.” 
How long shall these lamentable, these disgraceful exhibitions 
continue ? How long shall the opinion of a veterinary surgeon 
with regard to the soundness of a horse be regarded as a by-word 
and a proverb ? What will ere long become of this valuable 
portion of our practice, if our nonsense, our inconsistencies, and 
our incompetence, are thus blazoned to the world ? There wants, 
and there must be, a radical reform here. If our teachers will 
