JURISPRUDENCE. 
435 
that every lame horse is unsound, but, to add these words, or which has 
that about him which is likely, or works to render him lame. This will, it 
is true, open the door to difference of opinion and equivocation. There 
may, as we have seen, spring up two opinions concerning the presence 
even of lameness. There will in more cases be two opinions concern¬ 
ing that which is accounted to be the precursor of lameness, or may 
have a tendency at some period proximate or remote to produce it. 
There will be less difference of opinion among professional 
men than among others, and he truly adds, the more skillful and re¬ 
spectable the professional persons are, the greater will be the probability 
of a happy unison in their views of the case.” 
As the practical result of a very large and varied experience in the 
examination of all classes and breeds of horses, for every conceivable 
purpose, I have come to the conclusion that no definite rule can be laid 
down but that whatever alteration in structure or function so affects the 
animal as to interfere with his usefuhiess or reduce his value renders him 
unsound. 
In a new country like this, where the great majority of horses sub¬ 
mitted to us for examination as to soundness are being bought by cor¬ 
porations or individual clients, who claim to have no knowledge of 
horses whatever, and seek not only your opinion as to the soundness 
but the suitableness also, we are thereby compelled to qualify our judg¬ 
ment according to the purpose for which the horse is intended. Thus 
take for instance a carting or tramway establishment—were the vet¬ 
erinary examiner to reject all animals not absolutely sound—the com¬ 
pany would find it difficult to keep up their stock of horses, and would 
have to pay high prices for every one bought, such a rule would be 
quite impracticable. Our opinions therefore ought to be modified ac¬ 
cording to the extent to which the defect interferes with the usefulness 
of the animal, or reduces his value. A slightly blemished horse, if 
bought at a correspondingly low price, may be just as useful, and earq 
as much for the company as one absolutely sound. In the case of a fancy, 
high-priced horse, where the least defect would reduce his value or 
render him liable to lameness or disease, we must be more decided in 
our opinions. 
I agree with Oliphant who says : “ When a horse is free from he¬ 
reditary disease, is in possession of his natural and constitutional health, 
and has as much bodily perfection as is consistent with his natural 
formation, a veterinary surgeon may safely certify him to be sound. 
But as there is in most horses some slight alteration in structure either 
