the horse, and stating that he is sound, kind, goes well under the saddle and in single or double harness, and is afraid of nothing.
The vices which in the eye of the law make a horse returnable are Biting, Cribbing, Kicking, Rearing when dangerous, and Shying when dangerous.
In estimating the height of a horse it is convenient to remember that fifteen hands make exactly five feet—a "hand" being four inches, or a third of a foot.
To aid the inexperienced we give a cut showing a horse, originally of high spirit but faulty organization, broken down by ill usage, and also append a list of the various defects and ailments which every horse-owner ought to know something about.
LIST OF DISEASES AND DEFECTS.
[Those printed in small capitals constitute Unsoundness in the eye of the law.]
Acclimation.—Horses removed from one part of the country to another have usually a period of indisposition, often of severe illness, and always for some time require more than ordinary care. It is well, therefore, not to buy a Western horse in the Atlantic States until he has been at least a month in his new surroundings.
Apoplexy.—Sometimes called "sleepy staggers." Begins with drowsiness, passing into insensibility, with snoring respiration, and ending in death.
Blindness.—Often comes on gradually. Eyes of a bluish-black are thought suspicious, as is inflammation of ball or lid, or cloudiness of pupil.
Blind staggers.—See "Megrims" and "Staggers."
Bog-spavin.—A soft swelling on the inner side of the hock-joint towards the front. It is caused by the formation of a sac contain-
