2IO ACTIONS AT LAW. 



was called in on the first occasion, had removed the mischief. 

 The mare died from acute inflammation of the bowels. 



Professor Pritchard, examined by Mr. O'Malley : I ex- 

 amined the stomach and bowels of this mare the day they 

 had been examined by Mr. Batt. I found the whole 

 course of the lining membrane of the bowels in an inflamed 

 state, and noticed on the cuticular portion of the stomach 

 a number of bots, and a number of depressions indicating 

 that bots had been attached there and become removed ; 

 the stomach was perfectly healthy. There was no con- 

 nection between the state of the bowels and the presence 

 of bots. Their presence had nothing to do with the in- 

 flammation of the bowels, nor is their existence considered 

 a disease. On the contrary, it is consistent with the most 

 perfect health of the animal. I never before heard of 

 their producing inflammation in the bowels by preventing 

 the proper digestion of the food, and I think such a theory 

 is absurd. In this instance, I do not suppose that there 

 were more than sixty or seventy. I have known scores 

 of cases where there were double the number present. I 

 have never heard of an attack of pleurisy lasting many 

 days without the symptoms being very palpable. The 

 presence of bots does not impair the energy or the health 

 of the horse. I am not aware of any symptoms by which 

 they can be detected. 



Cross-examined : In a healthy horse the period of the 

 development of the bot is about ten months. I do not 

 believe that a horse when in an unsound or weak state is 

 more likely to attract the gad-fly than a sound, healthy 

 animal ; it is a well-known fact in veterinary science. I 

 have known numerous cases of bots in the stomach, but 

 I have never known, in my own practice, an instance 

 where they have in any way interfered with the health of 

 the horse. Impaired digestion is not in itself a cause of 

 inflammation of the bowels. The digestive process is not 



