354 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
and other public places. A few years ago, when breeding and 
prices were raging high and fever at boiling point, and every 
person, from the huckster to the millionaire, was trying to raise 
a world-beater, it was amusing to hear some speak of well- 
formed horses if the same were fat and well groomed, or in rac¬ 
ing condition, when a glance over your shoulder would have 
convinced you in a second that the animal hadn’t a leg nor foot 
to stand on, even if the sire was so and so, and the dam so and 
so. It became quite a common practice for veterinarians to 
overlook soundness and have their attention drawn to breeding 
and merits. So long as the animal was fast and well bred, big¬ 
headed, long-backed, curby hocked and plossibly a spavin or some 
other exostosis present, they passed their opinion as, sound, 
never realizing the fact that they were being employed to judge 
conformation and soundness, and not for speed and merit. It 
is common for veterinarians to have a good point or two run 
away with their judgment, when a dozen or so of other defects 
or abnormalities are staring them in the face. It would be much 
better if they would start out and look for unsoundness and let 
the good points come to them naturally. They don’t need 
judging. 
The question may arise, how can this delicate matter be rec¬ 
tified among veterinarians ? if the profession intends to elevate 
itself in this direction to a higher standard, so as to have recog¬ 
nition from those who have been duped in the past, and also to 
put aside the would-be horseman (expert judge) and self-made 
judge. The right spirit will do much tow^ards promoting the 
growth of better judges in the future, thus bringing the profes¬ 
sion up to a higher standard so as to maintain our standing in 
the eyes of our cousins across the water. We must show our 
superior ability as veterinarians as judges over the educated 
people and pretender when called in for an opinion as to sound¬ 
ness, whether we are foreign or American born, or whether we 
hold diplomas from this side or the other. It is a matter of pro¬ 
fessional duty, and one that we can’t overlook, when our mental 
faculties are put to task to really find out whether or not we are 
masters of the situation. Robert Robb, V.S., M.D. 
EIABIEITY OF VETERINARY SURGEONS FOR THEIR OPINIONS 
UPON SOUNDNESS. 
Brooklyn, July 19, 189S. 
Editors American Veterinary Review : 
Gentuemen :—In your comments in this month’s Review, 
