caustic operation for bone spavin. 521 
proves (if proof were wanting) how ready people are to call 
their horses sound when they want to sell them, either from 
not giving the question due consideration, or in the hope 
that purchasers may be found willing to buy on the strength 
of the seller’s assurance that “the horse is all right, and only 
such an age.” 
I examined another horse about a fortnight ago, an Arab, 
six years old, and a very handsome animal, price £120. In 
reply to a note from the intending purchaser, the owner said 
the horse was sound as a bell, free from blemish, and perfect 
in temper and aces, and that he had no hesitation in 
agreeing to a veterinary surgeon giving his opinion of him. 
I found the horse to be unquestionably spavined in both 
hocks (a rare thing with Arabs), and stiff in his action there¬ 
from. So very apparent were these spavins, that three 
officers, who were standing by when I examined the horse, 
asked me if he were not unsound in his hocks, without my 
having said or done anything to draw their attention to 
those joints. 
In this instance I really believe the owner felt fully per¬ 
suaded that his horse was sound and perfect in every way. 
It is an unpleasant duty to have to pronounce a horse of 
such value unsound under the circumstances of this last 
case ; but if people will submit their horses to our exa¬ 
mination, and purchasers will not buy without it, what can 
we do ? 
My opinion was asked about another horse, an Arab, 
value £140, some time ago, which I was obliged to condemn 
as unsound in three places. I subsequently heard that the 
seller, a gentleman , was perfectly aware of his horse’s being 
unsound, and that the animal had been examined by another 
veterinary surgeon, who would not pass him for the very same 
faults that I had found to exist. 
ON THE CAUSTIC OPERATION FOR BONE 
SPAVIN. 
By J. G. Cattrall, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
The wise man has told us that <c a word fitly spoken is 
like apples of gold in pictures of silver ” therefore, before 
attempting to describe the above operation, I feel it my duty 
to express my gratitude to our esteemed member, Mr. E. C. 
Dray, M.R.C.V.S., of Leeds, and President of the Yorkshire 
xxxvii. 34 
