DRUGS IN STABLES. 97 



the most poisonous character. Their rashness and 

 presumption are almost incredible. Here are two 

 extracts which I cut from the police columns of a 

 daily paper : — 



' Caution to Farm Servants. — On Monday last a 



waggoner in the employ of Mr. H was charged 



before the magistrates with administering poisonous 

 drugs to his master's horses, and was sent to gaol for 

 one month with hard labour. The poisons con- 

 sisted of savine and sheep salve. We hope this 

 notice will act as a warning; to others holding similar 

 situations, and who, we fear, are too often guilty of 

 the like dangerous practice, for the sake of making 

 the horses look bright, at the expense and risk of 

 their valuable lives.' 



'At the Petty Sessions to-day, W J , 



servant to Mr. H , farmer, was charged with 



administering a poisonous compound to his master's 

 horses, and on conviction the magistrates fined him 

 3/. An expert stated that antimony was the prin- 

 cipal ingredient, and that the poison had been given 



to produce a glossy skin. Three of Mr. II 's 



horses had died through this practice.' 



The reader has doubtless noticed that in neither 

 of these cases was the horse intentionally injured. 

 Had it been so, the punishment would have been 

 much more severe. So far from wishing to be cruel 



ii 



