The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-12-15
EXAMINE TON OF HORSES FOR
S0UNDFESS.
by G.. II. Roberts. Assistant state Vetena
rian, Indiana.

4 satisfactory definition of sound or
no other word that conveys quite the
same meaning. a person is said to have
sound body, or an organ is said to be
sound when it is healthy. The term as
it applies to the horse includes little
more. The horse is sound when he is
healthy and when his conformation is
such that he has not had and is not
/ likely to have any tendency TO any par
ticular diseases. The term sound as used
by veterinarians and dealers is often
loosely construed. 1t may mean any
thing from freedom from lameness or not
wind broken, to an apparently healthy
condition at the time of examination.
| There is no fixed technical or legal detini-
ton that is uniformly recognized. The
English definition of unsoundness, while
defective in that it is wholly based upon
the usefulness of the animal, is one
worthy of being repeated, and is as follows:
ANY disease or alteration of structure
from disease, or accident which does in
terfere, or may in its ordinary course
interfere with the animals usefulness, is
unsoundness, and furthermore, slightness
of disease of facility of cure is no quail
tication as regards such unsoundness."
An animal may have had diseases that
have been cured, or may have some
disease at the time of examination that
does not interfere with his usefulness for
some purposes, is then said to be service
ably sound" In some places "serviceably
sound" refers only to wind.
\ vice is not necessarily unsoundness,
but some of them lead to unsoundness
aud may therefore be considered as part
of the examination in the selection of an
animal. Vices are such traits of char
acter, or such habits as have the tendency
to produce disease or to lessen the use
fulness, mar the appearance, interfere
with or make dangerous, the handling,
or cause the destruction of property.
Before examining the horse the pur-
chaser should decide upon the character
of the service for which the animal is
intended whether for slow draft, heavy
or light harness, saddle, or combination.
The class or type, size, age, gait, sex, and
color should be approximately settled.
Ample time should be taken in the selec-
ton of a horse. This can usually be
done when the animal is obtained from
the dealer or producer, but is seldom
allowable at public sales or at sale stables.
At a public sale the horse is sold as sound,
"servicably sound, or at the lend of the
halter" When the horse is sold as
sound, the purchaser has the privilege
of returning the animal if found to be
otherwise within day or two. If sold
as "serviceably sound" the term applies
merely to wind and the ability to do
work. In some cases the special dis
ability is mentioned. Ifsold at the lend
of the halter" the purchaser takes all
the chances on the number and character
of the diseases that may be present.
The ideal conditions under which to
examine the, horse for soundness is at his
home, first in the stable, next in the
door, then outside the stable, and finally
action.
EXAMINATION IN THE STABLE
The examination in the stable should
include evidence of habits as we'll as that
of diseases The points to be covered
may be briefly outlined as follows: First
for the disease. Note the position