DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 389 
mon fairness, such an animal should have a very distinct 
specification of the nature of his malady sent with him, 
rather than the general one of his unsoundness. Many 
horses examined at the present would prove to be whistlers, 
and perhaps very decided ones, that in a fortnight’s time 
would bear the severest tests satisfactorily; and the two 
certificates from different examiners would relate opposite 
stories. It is a question for the profession to consider, 
whether the neglect of proper precaution; the too rigid ad¬ 
herence to the mere certification of unsoundness does not 
often lead to a difference in expression of opinion that should 
not and would not exist if the two opposing examiners were 
both present at each examination. 
It is commonly advanced as a reproach to the profession, 
that a horse may be sent to one qualified man and returned 
unsound, as a roarer; and shortly afterwards certified by 
another, equally capable, to be perfectly free from such 
defect. Each man will vigorously defend his own opinion, 
and solace himself with the belief that his opponent has made 
a mistake, accepting the triumph of his case as a compliment 
to his superior sagacity, forgetting that he loses, as a member 
of the profession, more than he gains as an individual. Such 
discrepancies are most unfortunate in their effects upon the 
public. Instead of dogmatically adhering to his own opinion, 
founded upon evidence presented at one time, it would better 
become each member to reflect that the opposite view might 
be equally inevitable upon evidence present at another period, 
and the public would not be so far justified as they are now 
in the assertion, so often uttered, that if six men are found 
to swear to a horse’s unsoundness, there is no difficulty in 
finding six more to solemnly aver that he is free from every 
defect. 
Recent disease may lead to permanent deposits in the re¬ 
spiratory organs, and occasion confirmed roaring or whistling, 
unfortunately very often consequent upon attacks of catarrh, 
bronchitis, and pneumonia in young horses. While the 
symptoms indicate that the disease is still acute, there is a 
possibility of successful treatment, and it cannot, under such 
circumstances, be proper to give an opinion implying perma¬ 
nent unsoundness, when it may happen that the defect will 
altogether have ceased to exist in a few days’ time. 
It is not contended that any doubt can be raised as to the 
present unsoundness, only that there should be some distinc¬ 
tion made between cases that certainly differ in some very 
essential particulars. 
(To be continued .) 
