EXAMINATION OF HORSES FOR SOUNDNESS. 
59 
front legs, over the fetlocks; slipping back to the rear, he dex¬ 
terously manipulates the hips and the hocks. He brings down 
the admiration of his audience of the usual stable contingent, 
by a single glance at the incisor teeth, a fillip of the fingers in 
front of the eye to test the visionary powers of the wondering 
beast, and with a dig in the side he is prepared to pronounce 
the animal not a “roarer.” With a trot up and down the 
street he is then ready to give his opinion to the owner as to 
the soundness of the animal. So these two men may observe 
the same defect, but it will have a different significance to each 
in many cases. 
Again, personal experience with certain structural affec¬ 
tions will influence an individual estimate of their significance. 
Those who have never met a case of sidebone, producing 
lameness, would be disposed to undervalue its importance, 
while a practitioner, observing hygroma of the hock only as a 
blemish, would not feel justified in sending its possessor back 
to his master; or he who has only found splents cool and lo¬ 
cated on the rudimentary metacarpel bone, would hesitate in 
dealing harshly with one situated a little anteriorly. But 
conversely, an examiner who is fresh from a poor result in 
treating such an affection as any of the foregoing, would pro¬ 
nounce severe judgment on such abnormalities. So there are 
very many reasons why two practitioners examining the same 
animal may differ in their estimate of the horse’s worth. 
We will not speak to-night of that veterinarian who be¬ 
comes so expert with his “ practiced eye,” and “ educated 
touch ” that a careful examination is not necessary for a thor¬ 
ough knowledge of the horse's condition. The time has passed 
when a hurried glance over the stall door will reveal to the 
intuitive mind of the “ born veterinarian ” a perfect insight 
into the anatomical structure and physiological functions of 
the salable soliped. We have no patience with a man who 
can see in his “ mind’s eye ” this same horse ten years hence, 
performing his work to the perfect satisfaction of his trusting 
client. 
But, to the careful, painstaking, intelligent veterinary sur¬ 
geon, who goes about his task in a sytematic, professional 
