The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-01-16
souNDNEss AND uNsouNDNEss


Wood, in an exchange, who seems to
understand his business. He says:
There is not a horse owner in the coun-
try who will fail to recognize the desir-
ability of having some light thrown
upon the Important question designated
in the above heading. The records of
the proceedings in our courts will fully
attest the necessity existing for obtain
ing tolerably clear ideas of the leading
nice points which this discussion in
wolves, two or three times the price of
many valuable animal having been
In innumerable instances fritted away
in expenses, which little timely study
of the principles governing this branch
of knowledge might have obviated.
We propose, therefore, to draw the at.
tention OF our readers to this branch of
Jurisprudence, believing that careful
perusal of our remarks will have the
effect of placing them on their guard,
and save, perhaps, in many an in
stance, an unwelcome bill of law and
costs, the amount represented thereby
being available for maintaining their
horses in health, or for employing
competent veterinary skill, should ac-
cident or disease unfortunately render
this course necessary, a much more
legitimate channel in our opinion for
the judicious employment of surplus
or available cash.
In explaining the various cases which
have occupied the attention of the
courts, both English and American, the
following seems to be the generally ac
cepted definition of soundness: "a
horse is sound when he is free from he
reditary disease, is in the possession of
his natural and constitutional health,
and has as much bodily perfection as
is consistent with his natural forma-
ton" "a horse is free from vice when
he has no bad habits which make him
dangerous, or that are injurious to his
health, or that in any way diminish
his natural usefulness, Though the
definition is perhaps the best that can
be given, actual experience shows that
it's acceptance is not effectual in doing
entirely away with disputes, which
eventually find their way into the
courts and drag their slow length
along, the purchaser soon becoming
alive to the fact that if he got slow
horse and a slow trial his money is
leaving him with lightning celebrity,
and the seller having at last some dim
perception that ''all is not gold that
gIitters," ard being somewhat mysti
fed as to the perplexing question
whether, after all, he himself, as well
as the horse, is really ''sOld," the only
se]f-possessed and happy figures in the
group being the legal advisers, who
have presented to them a glorious field
for making confusion worse con
founded" From what we have already
said, our readers will at once see with
what caution any one should proceed
when warranting horse Sound and
free from vice." and that on such an
occasion he should have pretty clear
ideas of the subjecs under discussion,
always looking ut the possible contin-
gency of legal proceeding. Some own
ers will not under any circumstances
give the warranty which many pur-
chasers insist upon having. 1t is quite
true that these people efectually pro
vide against the unpleasant results
which we have mentioned as possible,
but it must not be forgotten that too
rigid Observance of such e rule may
often do away with the chances of a
really desirable sale, and entail loss,
which caution, tempered with judi
cious enterprise and confidence, might
have prevented
Many of those under whose eyes this
article may fall may not be aware how
slight are the defects which in the eye
of the law, may constitute ''unsound-
ness" For example: An abrasion,
though hardly perceptible, and requir-
ing but little care, is an unsoundness
until perfectly healed. Practically
speaking, when examining horse as
to soundnees, the following rules should
be observed:
Have the horse to be examined, if
possible, left in box stall three hours,
then have attendant lead him out,
where the examiner or purchaser must
oarof,1IIxz aaa IF fboro ia anv stjffnosa.
this is the time and place the animal
will exhibit it n ost, if present. Then
place the horse in the stable with the
head facing the door, so that the ex-
aminer can observe whether the pupils
contract naturally and alike. Then