VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 499 
Mr. Goodwin adverted to another branch of the subject—natu¬ 
ral deformities : one jaw shorter than the other,—legs twisted,— 
tail on one side,—do they constitute unsoundness? 
Mr. W. Fenivall. —1 would bring them under the general 
principle,—do they interfere with the present or permanent func¬ 
tion of the part ? 
Mr. Goodwin. —A great deal depends on this circumstance, 
whether the deformed part or member can interfere with the 
action; e. g. a tail that will not hold a crupper, a pastern so 
turned out as to render cutting an almost necessary consequence. 
Mr. J. Turner observed, that if it was the object of Mr. W. 
Percivall to lay down any specific rules to guide us, he w r ould be 
disappointed; the experience, or perhaps the prejudices, of the 
surgeon must be his only guide. 
Mr. W. Fercivall felt this to a certain degree; but still he ima¬ 
gined that, as w r e were guided by established rules in the other 
departments of our profession, some rules might be beneficially 
adopted here; and if he could only establish the principle of his 
paper, that unsoundness was the impairment oj function or capa¬ 
city , this discussion would hot be useless. The profession should 
adopt some common opinion or understanding. The subject is an 
abstruse one, but Mr. Turner should not throw a damp on their 
discussion of it. If it be abstruse, there is the more occasion for 
thorough examination. 
Mr. Turner. —It is impossible to draw any line: a horse 
may have thrush, and yet be sound; or that very thrush may con¬ 
stitute unsoundness; and so with splent. 
Mr. W. Fercivall. —But does not Mr. Turner see that this is 
perfectly consistent with the object of my paper, to lead us to 
adopt some principle for our guidance in the determination of 
soundness or unsoundness? 
Mr. Fenwick thought this a subject of very great difficulty. 
Mr. Coleman’s opinion, that “ alteration of structure and func¬ 
tion interfering with the utility of the animal was necessary to 
constitute unsoundness,” had always guided him; and yet what 
latitude is here given to the veterinarian, or what difficulties and 
uncertainties surround him! He w r ould often give a dubious opi¬ 
nion, rather than mislead his employer. “ This horse,” he would 
say, “ appears to me to be sound, but here is this defect: it may, or 
may not, come to any thing. Let the vender give you a fair trial: 
if the horse turn out unsound, let him take him back.” As to 
insisting on the surgeon’s determining at once sound or unsound, 
it cannot be done in a variety of cases. Megrims is a difficult 
malady to decide on. The animal does his work, but he may sud¬ 
denly drop, and break your neck. 11c never knew a horse with 
