OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
69 
fessional abilities will admit of. I shall not attempt to follow 
in the wake of those who have preceded me in treating of 
the subject, but will strike out a path of my own, which will, 
I hope, render these observations acceptable to those members 
of the profession whose practice does not lead them into this 
branch of veterinary science to any great extent. I believe, 
indeed I know, there are scores of men in the veterinary pro¬ 
fession who are engaged principally in a country practice, and 
who cannot, of necessity, be expected to devote as much of 
their time to this subject as others of their professional 
brethren residing in towns. 
The course I propose to pursue in elucidating the subject 
is in accordance with the system carried out in my practical 
examinations. It must, however, be distinctly understood 
that my observations refer more particularly to undisputed 
cases. It may perhaps be necessary, in order to make them 
more intelligible and complete, if that part of our duties, viz., 
post-mortem examinations, are occasionally made matter of 
comment; but as I am not often called upon to investigate 
cases of this nature, it will not be expected that I shall dwell 
long upon them. Happily, in this country, but few such 
instances fall under notice, which fact alone speaks volumes 
in favour of the system I have so long advocated. 
The head being the part, in our examinations, to which 
attention is first directed, I shall proceed to speak of the 
state of the mouth. 
There are several reasons why we should carefully scru¬ 
tinise this cavity. In the first place, it is desirous to know 
the age of thfe animal. In this, how^ever, we are occasionally 
puzzled, as some horses are so ‘‘ forward in their mouths^^ 
at the end of the year that they appear older than they 
really are. Thus, a three-year-old wdll have indications 
of being four; a four-year-old five, and so on. One side 
of the mouth, also, will often be in advance of the other 
side. Some yearling ponies will present appearances of 
having a full mouth of permanent teeth. This, however, has 
only reference to the female sex. Again, some old horses 
will have their teeth so evenly worn and perfect, that one of 
four-and-twenty years old may pass muster for a six-year-old 
wdth the inexperienced. All this, and even more, will be 
often witnessed in natural cases, so that it is necessary for 
the examiner of horses as to soundness to make himself fully 
acquainted with all variations which are likely to occur. 
And when it is known that art occasionally steps in to assist 
dentition, it becomes still more necessary that we fully 
understand what she is capable of effecting. 
