G8 
ON SOUNDNESS. 
cause he had bought a horse with 4 a tail that would not hold a 
crupper, or a pastern so turned out as to render cutting an almost 
necessary consequence V The lawyers would tell him, that what 
was plain and palpable at the time of sale to every one, is no de¬ 
ception, and can have no remedy in law. We may consider it 
our duty to point out these things to our employer as very objec¬ 
tionable in a horse; but we shall do wrong, I think, to admit 
them into the catalogue of unsoundnesses. 
You have called upon the profession to express their ideas on 
this subject; and although I am at a great distance, and 
have comparatively but little interest in the question, I can no 
longer remain 4 A Looker-on.’ I feel I have stepped upon dis¬ 
puted ground ; but in doing this I would remind my brethren, 
that it is ground upon which it is most desirable we should all 
shake hands; for here, indeed, union would be strength. I have 
endeavoured to simplify the question at issue amongst us, 
believing that to be the only chance there is of arriving at some 
definite conclusion. Another effort ought to be made, I think, 
to establish a broad sound principle as a general rule; and in 
endeavouring to do this let me repeat, that all extraneous matter 
should be excluded from the discussion, and it should be kept 
to one point only. In the mean time, if Mr. Field would favour 
us with an account of the examination for soundness as practised 
at their great establishment in Oxford Street, detailing each step 
of the operation, and shewing, as he went on through each part, 
what they consider unsoundness, or what they consider not un- 
soundness, he would, I think, confer an obligation on the pro¬ 
fession at large; and, for my own part, although I have not the 
pleasure of being individually known to him, I should feel highly 
gratified: it might also assist us in coming to a just conclusion 
on the great question we have in hand ; for whatever we find to 
be right in practice, cannot be theoretically wrong. Until this 
knotty point be somewhat settled, I shall avoid giving a certi¬ 
ficate couched in the positive terms I have heretofore been accus¬ 
tomed to do. Instead of saying, 4 1 certify that (such a horse) 
has a spavin/ and consequently is unsound, I shall in future 
write, 4 1 am of opinion that (such a horse) is unsound, having a 
spavin/ See. 
Seeing that, in the present state of our knowledge, one is 
liable to be contradicted at every step, and always keeping in 
mind the excellent piece of advice that our friend Gay has given 
us in our infancy, viz.— 
When next you talk of what you view, 
Think others see as well as you, 
I am, Sir, &c. &c. 
James Castley, V. S. 
