198 
EXAMINATION OF HORSES FOR SOUNDNESS. 
the kindness to give your opinion upon the case mentioned in the en¬ 
closed statement ? 
The mare was sold by me as sound to Mr. Miller, and rejected upon 
Dr. Ackerman’s certificate. Being impressed that the animal was sound, 
I had her examined by three reputable veterinary surgeons, who pro¬ 
nounced her sound, as per their several enclosed certificates. 
Query: —Dr. Ackerman having pronounced the animal “ unsound 
at both ends,” and that upon a ” superficial examination,” have I an}’- 
redress in the matter as against Dr. Ackerman ? 
This is not of interest to myself alone, but to your profession at 
large, and your opinion in the matter will greatly oblige,. 
Yours very truly, 
Clarence H. Robbins. 
S8 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
DR. ACKERMAN’S DETTER TO THE BUYER. • 
Brooklyn, March 8, 1898. 
Dear Mr. Miller : 
In reply to your letter of yesterday I would say that your request on 
Sunday was that you had a very gentle horse you wanted my opinion as 
to “whether he was a suitable horse for you, up to your weight, etc.” 
In reply to that, the horse was brought out and I made an examina¬ 
tion as to his conformation, gait and last, but not least, a superficial ex¬ 
amination as to his soundness. 
After looking him over and seeing him move I said to you as the 
horse stood quiet, “ I do not think he is up to your weight ; he is too 
narrow-chested and barreled.” I said, “See, you can see his knees 
trembling now, ’ ’ which they were while we stood looking at him. And 
I do not consider his gait a safe one for a saddle horse, especially to 
carry a weight, as he crossed his front legs too much and therefore likely 
to trip or stumble. 
As far as his soundness is concerned, I said just as little as I could, 
but I will say that he wasn’t sound at either end, and I will leave it to 
any three or five reputable veterinary surgeons to examine the,horse 
without knowing anything about the case at all, whether he is sound 
or not. At the time of my examination I did not know the horse be¬ 
longed to Mr. Robbins, and I did not care who he belonged to. You 
employed me and that is as far as I am ever interested. I try to 
render an honest opinion and protect the interests of my clients with¬ 
out doing the horse any more injury than the necessities of the case 
call for. E. B. Ackerman, D. V. S. 
CERTIFICATES OF OTHER VETERINARIANS. 
Brooklyn, March 6, 1898. 
This is to certify that I have examined this day, at the request of 
Mr. Clarence Robbins, a clipped mare, stands about 15.3, rising seven 
years old, docked, with banged mane. White star on forehead; two 
white fetlocks behind, and with the exception of two small splents, which 
in no way interferes with her usefulness, I give it as my opinion that 
she is sound. L. McLean, M. R. C. V. S. 
