2 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
And in the same case Mr. Baron Alderson said, the word 
‘ sound’ means sound; and the only qualification of which 
it is susceptible arises from the purpose for which the war¬ 
ranty is given.” 
Again, we'may define a horse to be ^ sound’ when he is 
free from hereditary disease, is in the possession of his natural 
and constitutional health, and has as much bodily perfection 
as is consistent with his natural formation. The rule as to 
unsoundness is that if, at the time of sale, the horse has any 
disease which either actually does diminish the natural use¬ 
fulness of the animal, so as to make him less capable of 
work of any description, or which, in its ordinary progress, 
will diminish the natural usefulness of the animal—or if the 
horse has, either from disease or accident, undergone any 
alteration of structure that either actually does at the time 
or in its ordinary effects will diminish the natural usefulness 
of the horse, such a horse is unsoundP 
Mr. Baron Alderson said, I am of the same opinion. 
The word ‘ sound’ means sound,^ &c. Now all this reads 
very well upon pa[)er, but we often find there is much dif¬ 
ference of opinion even with legal men when we hear their 
arguments in a court of law, and more so with regard to 
the evidences ‘^as found in recorded cases of veterinary 
surgeons.” 
It has been suggested that an association should be formed 
of professional and non-professional men, in order to come to 
some settlement as to what constitutes tinsoundness {vide 
Veterinarian, vol. xxx, p. 550.) I do not see the way clear 
in this step, although it might be one in the right direction, 
provided always the subsequent steps were followed up in a proper 
manner. There would, 1 think, be almost as much difficulty 
in arranging a code of laws relative to soundness in horses as 
there is in passing a bill through both houses of Parliament. 
In the first place, who will undertake to collect a jury or com¬ 
mittee for such a purpose ? The Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons I hold to be the proper medium for such to ema¬ 
nate from. A memorial could probably be got up and 
signed by the profession, and a deputation wait on the mem¬ 
bers of tlie profession, constituting the Royal College of 
Surgeons of England, and bring the question before them, 
requesting that they will take the matter into their conside¬ 
ration. Until this or some such step is taken the laws as to 
soundness in horses will remain a dead letter. 
There is another question which is of as much importance 
as soundness. I allude to warrantv. We often hear of 
A'' 
horses being ovnrranted, and warranted sound too. What is 
