THE ASS AND THE MULE. 433 



From the Farmer^s Register, Vol. 4, page 357. 



DEATH OF THE SECOND MULE'S COLT. 

 To the Editor of the Farmer's Register. 



Spring Hill, Nansemond County, (Va.,) Aug. 26, 1836. 

 Dear Sir : — Permit me to record, in your Register, the death of my second colt, the issue 

 of a mare mule, by a horse. The colt was born in August, 1835, and died on this day, hav- 

 ing been sick two or three days. Having lost one, I was desirous of raising this. It was 

 in fine order — the mother doing nothing, upon a good pasture. It is true, the mother nor 

 the colt had not been housed until the night before it was taken sick. I had another colt 

 running in the same pasture, treated in the same way, and is as yet doing well. Everything 

 was done for the mule's colt that could be done, but it suffered much and died at last. A 

 passage could not be gotten through it, and when dead, I had it opened and all that could be 

 discovered, was, that everything that had been given it was then in its stomach and had 

 never passed on to the bowels. It was blistered on its forehead — the blister drew well, but 

 in vain: and a question arises with me — can an offspring delivered of the body of a mongrel 

 be raised ? That question I should like to hear solved by those better informed upon that 

 subject than I am. If it should be thought to be possible to raise one, I will then try the 

 mare mule with a Jack, as suggested by A. B. C. (in No. 4, vol. 4,) whose opinion I should 

 like to have upon this subject. John T. Kilby. 



There, sir — you have the whole history of the breeding mule, so far as published to my 

 knowledge. It seems to me, you ought to write to Mr. Kilby to furnish the subsequent 

 nistory of this mule, and the success that may have attended any subsequent attempt to breed 

 and raise the foal. I would enclose the letter to Mr. RufRn, who knows K.'s post-office, and 

 will forward it to him." 



We should have have done so, but that we have understood that Mr. Kilby has since deceased. 

 There are, we may observe, a few other such cases recorded " in the books," but in all 

 they seem to have come into the world as unwelcome and monstrous exceptions to a general 

 decree ; and then to have soon perished, as if Providence would stamp with early decay, all 

 fruits of a passion so universal and intense, whenever it is gratified in violation of its edicts, 

 and in a way that would engender infinite disorder and confusion. 



J. S. S. 



THE END. 

 37 3. 



