CONSULTATIONS. 
17 
of being rather hide-bound, and a very slight dry eruption on her 
skin, which has existed more or less since I bought her about a year 
ago. I might remark, that, perhaps, she does not take on flesh in 
the degree her feeding would lead us to expect, though, in spite of 
the slight eruption, her coat is remarkable glossy. 
The appearance of the nervous affection is an apparent stiffen- 
ing of the legs and contraction of the skin, which goes off the mo- 
ment she stands still ; and should it happen at a considerable dis- 
tance from home, on arriving at the stable she attacks her meat as 
greedily as ever, and shews no symptoms of any thing having hap- 
pened. 
Having supposed it to proceed from some slight affection of the 
digestive organs, we gave her a ball of six drachms of aloes, but 
without any apparent effect, as it has happened since. We have 
this day given her a ball of two drachms of antimony, three of nitre, 
and four of sulphur, supposing that her skin may have been affected 
by cold. Such is the case and treatment. Under these circum- 
stances, is it your opinion that I can give a warranty of soundness ? 
You will oblige me by giving me an immediate answer, as on Mon- 
day the bargain must be concluded or not. 
She is a wonderful trotter, and the nervous affection has hap- 
pened after trotting fast for a mile or two. 
I remain, your’s truly. 
To Professor Dick, Edinburgh. 
As to your mare’s soundness, holding, as I do, that all and every 
disease, whether it be latent or obvious, constitutes unsoundness, and 
if even the cause of some future ailment exist at the time of sale 
the animal must be considered unsound, I would advise that you 
should not warrant her. 
There are some apparent reasons for forming an opposite opinion; 
and I have no doubt many would consider themselves quite entitled in 
giving a warranty, because the disease, or at least the obvious symp- 
toms, are only occasional and very temporary, and from the mare’s 
nervous temperament, the effects you mention might be referred to 
that cause combined with over-exertion, although it may only be 
continued for a short time; but as she is also in some degree “hide- 
bound, and has an eruption on her. skin,” I think it must be held 
that there is some latent cause existing in the system, which only 
requires excitement to produce its development, and she must, there- 
fore, be held as unsound. Such, I think, would be the opinion of 
lawyers. 
I am, &c. 
W. DiCk. 
VOL. XIV. C 
