CONFLICTING OPINIONS 143 



up by the Press, and a great deal of rubbish written 

 to support it. Orme got worse after the opera- 

 tion, and accordingly Porter telegraphed for Mr. 

 Williams, the well-known veterinary professor, and 

 in response to the summons, both he and his 

 son at once came down to Kingsclere. On care- 

 fully examining the horse, they declared that Orme 

 had been poisoned. Porter himself has not the 

 least doubt whatever that such was the case. Every 

 symptom pointed to that conclusion. Mr. Williams's 

 opinion was that the poison was mercurial. In fact, 

 the animal exhibited all the most ordinary signs 

 of salivation. The tongue protruded, the teeth 

 had loosened, there was sloughing, and the poor 

 creature was unable to swallow naturally either 

 liquid or solid food. In the course of a fortnight 

 the hair came off in patches, and for a period of 

 ten days the horse's life was despaired of. He was 

 so weak he could scarcely stand without assist- 

 ance. Every possible remedy was employed, and 

 but for unremitting attention night and day, in 

 which Mr. Williams, Jun., the trainer himself, and a 

 trustworthy servant of the stable took part — the 

 horse never being left alone for a single moment — 

 Orme must have died. It was the animal's naturally 

 fine constitution which pulled him through. As 

 might have been expected, Kingsclere was besieged 

 by special commissioners, Turf reporters, and pur- 

 veyors of ' the latest from Kingsclere ' for the public 

 Press. Nor was the detective absent from the scene. 

 Indeed, when the matter was placed in the hands of 



