5 
Communications and Cases, 
ON SOUNDNESS AND UNSOUNDNESS IN 
HORSES. 
By J. Hawthorn, M.R.C.Y.S., Kettering. 
I notice with much pleasure communications in your 
last number from Messrs. Dickens and Gibbon, on the sub- 
ject of soundness and warranty. These, with the communi- 
cations already received from Messrs. Dyer and Gregory, 
show as far as they go that the present state of the law is 
far from satisfactory ; and I have no doubt that if a still 
larger number of the profession would communicate with 
you, it would tend very much to introduce a better state of 
things. I could not better illustrate my views on the sub- 
ject than in the words of Mr. Gibbon, in his communication 
in the last number of the Veterinarian , page 693, beginning 
“But on the question of soundness,” &c., &c. Living 
isolated as we do, the opinions of brother-practitioners come 
upon us with a novelty and pleasure extremely interesting, 
and although my friend Dickens is somewhat sarcastic, yet 
there is no one whose communications I read with more 
pleasure than his. 
I have almost done with active practice, God having 
visited me with an attack of paralysis, but still I feel 
a great interest in anything that concerns the welfare of the 
profession, and would do all 1 could to promote its interests. 
I know that during forty years’ practice, the examination of 
horses and defending my opinions, brought me into more 
disrepute, and caused me more anxiety, than any other part 
of my professional duties. 
I may, perhaps, be allowed to relate one more case illus- 
trative of this. The parties in question were both valued 
clients of mine. Some years ago I went to see a horse re- 
cently bought by a gentleman, which had refused his food 
from the time of purchase, and in consequence he looked thin 
and wasted. After examining him, I could discover no dis- 
ease, and therefore recommended a change of diet and more 
exercise. When I next saw him there was no change. He 
was always restless and watching the door. I gave two 
doses of physic, but still no amendment. I had known the 
