OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
7 
an external examination. Again^ I have heard it said that 
some examiners never gallop their subjects; they judge by 
the sound of the cough. Now^ some animals cannot be 
coughed. 
1 have no doubt every man who considers himself compe¬ 
tent to examine horses has his own method of doing so, and 
perhaps his system is perfectly right; at the same time it may 
be asked for what purpose is the assistance of the veterinary 
surgeon required ? The only reply I can offer is to the 
effect that he is expected to inform his client of any defect the 
animal has at the time of examination, and to give an 
opinion as to the probable remit of that defect, and likewise 
to state whether it is likely to prove injurious to the animal 
in his work or take away from his usefulness. This I hold 
to be the chief duty of an examiner as to soundness. 
VV'hen the examination is concluded it is usual to write a 
certificate. Many forms have been recommended. I have 
one which I employ. It is only necessary to mention that 
any form will answer the purpose, provided the examiner has 
it made in such a way that he has space to write his remarks. 
Mine is so arranged that in the block I take notes of all that 
may be thought by me at the time worthy of observation. 
It answers well as a reference. I remember having examined 
a horse for a farmer who bred him, and which was con¬ 
sidered usefully sound only. In six months after, that horse 
was presented again by a purchaser, and a certificate was 
written which was nearly a copy of what had been written 
previously. The animal was sent to a friend in London, and 
in a short time it was discovered that the horse had hernia. 
The gentleman here who had purchased him told me,m con¬ 
fidence, that I had overlooked the hernia. I assured him that 
it was his mistake, not mine; that I had taken a note of it at 
both examinations, which I could show him if we walked 
into the office. I handed him my certificate,book, and he 
read upon both blocks that hernia was present; this saved 
my credit, and he was satisfied. 
I read in a newspaper a short time since that a person 
examined upwards of three hundred horses to soundness at a 
fair in Ireland. N.rw, it happens that at the fair adverted to 
about three days are set apart for the sale of horses (although 
but one day is supposed to be the horse-fair daifi), so that the 
person had an herculean task to perform. Presuming the 
examiner took his morning meal at seven, and commenced 
his work at eight o’clock, and continued without intermission 
until six o^clock p.m., which would be ten hours, and allowing 
him five minutes for each examination, he would in that time 
