60 
ROSCOE BELL. 
manner, allowing no point to escape him, testing every func¬ 
tion, and using every precaution to avoid overlooking any 
defect, carefully weighing everything which has a bearing 
upon a correct and conscientious opinion upon the condition 
of the animal he is called upon to examine, we desire to ad¬ 
dress ourselves, and try to assist him by an interchange of 
views here in this society hall. 
Our time is too limited to discuss the many definitions of 
“ s mndness ” which are as various as the writers upon the 
subject are numerous. I am not willing to deny that the 
definition given us many years ago by Mr. Percival is not as 
good as any that have preceded or succeeded his contribution 
to veterinary jurisprudence,—so far as it goes. He says,— 
“ Any horse which is lame, or has that about him which is 
likely to render him lame, is unsound.” But surely, a horse 
may be absolutely unsound, and yet free from lameness. I 
should not employ the second time a doctor who allowed me 
to purchase an animal affected with pulmonary emphysema, 
simply because he was not lame. 
Prof. Liautard makes a decided improvement upon this 
qualifying definition when he says: “ An animal to be sound 
must be as near perfection as possible; must be free from di¬ 
sease likely to render him useless. We may find remains of 
disease, and yet he may be perfect enough to be a useful ani¬ 
mal.” I do not like that portion of his definition which says 
“ likely to render him useless.” He need not be useless to be 
unsound. He may be able to be useful, and yet his useful¬ 
ness may be of an unsatisfactory character; and if he find “ re¬ 
mains of disease and yet a useful animal” he is not necessa¬ 
rily a sound one. Possibly we may be able to arrive at a 
definition later on which will be the legal standard the world 
over. 
To examine an animal thoroughly we should see him at 
rest and in action; we should see him hot and see him cold. 
When at rest in the stall, we are permitted to watch how he 
deports himself; what he does, and how he does it; and es¬ 
pecially should we note his first movements when being 
backed ont into the gangway, for I need not tell you the 
