544 PURCHASE OF HORSES FOR THE ARMY IN INDIA. 
profession more than all besides, and that from a want of more 
common sense being exercised. I refer to the question of 
soundness. The fact is, soundness is much more a matter of 
opinion than a matter of fact, and no horse ought to be war- 
ranted sound, according to the present state of the law ; and 
the public could be sufficiently protected without it by vete- 
rinary surgeons stating if there was anything really wrong, 
and always recommending a trial for the purpose required 
when opportunity offered, and declining a purchase when 
this was not allowed. Professor Spooner will recollect a 
case in which we were both concerned as witnesses, and in 
which he did me the honour to say he thought my views were 
right. These were somewhat like those of our late talented 
Professor Coleman, namely, that f a horse was sound who 
could perform the ordinary duties of an ordinary horse/ All 
the results of the committee examinations as regards India 
and Cape horses, as shown in the Blue-book, confirm very 
satisfactorily these views, and therefore I doubt not you will 
feel an interest in it. 
“ Believe me, truly yours, &c.” 
To the Editors of the i Veterinarian .* 
From a perusal of these official documents, we gather that 
the number of horses already purchased amounts to 3300. 
Colonel Apperley, remount agent, in reference to the Cape 
horses, says he has a very high opinion of them for the ranks 
of the Indian army; but he deprecates the use of Arab 
stallions for breeding purposes. Lieutenant-General Grant 
also entertains no doubt whatever of the very superior quali- 
ties of the Cape horses for artillery and cavalry purposes ; 
while the Commander-In-Chief feels quite sure that the Cape 
colony is able to furnish an unlimited supply of horses, fit 
for all military purposes, and that they will be procurable for 
at least fifty per cent, less than that given for our present re- 
mounts, but that the intervention of brokers and stable- 
keepers must be forbidden. 
The total cost of fifty horses for the 12th Light Dragoons 
was £1194, being an average per horse of £23 17s- 7 \d, 
cost of the same number for the Cape Mounted Rifles was 
only £898 10s., an average per horse, of £17 19s. 4| d. 
Of course, to this the expenses incurred by the Commis- 
sioners for purchase have to be added, this amounting to 
£147 16s. Id, for each lot. 
The Honorable W. Hope, Auditor-General, Cape Town, 
speaking of Colonel Apperley’s fitness for his office, says : 
