868 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Dr. Qiiitjuan .—I mentioned it was due to an injury and be¬ 
lieve the majority of so-called dummies could be traced to trau¬ 
matic injury. It is a common occurrence to see a horse hit over 
the head with a broom stick or anything of that kind, and the 
condition that we find as dummy very closely resembles the 
symptoms that follow, and while I do not doubt the condition 
that any pressure on the brain will cause these conditions I 
claim that softening off the brain can be a cause. 
Dr. Wyman .—The doctor said that softening in the horse 
might lead to this trouble. Softening of the brain is either of 
traumatic or infectious origin and that it does take place is a 
fact. We do find it, especially as a complication of those 
troubles where we have a metastasis that may lead to abscess 
formation. 
Dr. A. H. Baker .—I do not consider a horse with an absent 
molar, and otherwise sound, as unsound. The mere fact that 
the corresponding molar extending down into this cavity and 
into the tissues below as being sufficient excuse for rejection of 
the animal are insufficient. There is no horse that will not re¬ 
quire attention sooner or later. They are all composed of flesh 
and blood and when put into service will all go wrong. Where 
there is an absent molar the opposing molar needs excising. A 
horse with a diseased molar is unsound. Cribbing per se is not 
nnsoundness. It is a habit on which the common law will allow 
a man to return a horse. It is a habit that certainly is very ob¬ 
jectionable and will lead to defects and disorders which we, as 
examiners, have nothing to do with. Misrepresentation of age 
is not unsoundness. It is a fraud which the common law would 
punish. It does not interfere with health. He is just as healthy 
as though the age were not misrepresented. A veterinarian al¬ 
ways gives his opinion regardless of misrepresentation. If a horse 
is nine and is represented as six, that should not influence the 
veterinarian, who should give his opinion regardless of whether 
the seller is telling a lie or not. Misrepresentation is fraud pure 
and simple and not unsoundness. Side-pulling due to no patho¬ 
logical lesion is not unsoundness. In the majority of cases it is 
due to sharp teeth. A dentist will correct it. If the horse is 
lame and is a side-puller it is unsound. Wind-sucking is a very 
serious question, because it is invariably associated with indiges¬ 
tion. Fifty per cent, of cribbers are wind-suckers and wind¬ 
sucking is unsoundness. It has always been a question in my 
mind as to whether a veterinary examiner of a horse for sound¬ 
ness should deviate at all from strictly or strict soundness. If 
