Kidd V. Royal Agricultural Socielij of England. 009 
Q. And had you charge of the liorses — the cavahy ? — A. I had. 
Q. And since your return from India where have you principally carried on 
,-our business? — A. Beverlej- — before I went to India — in Thirsk. 
Q. And between your experience before you went to India, and since your 
|-eturn from India, in the treatment of cattle, how manj^ years' experience can 
),ou recall '? — About 32 years. 
Q. Have you had a large personal practical experience in the diseases of 
■attle?— ^. I have. 
I Q. Have you in your time treated cases of hove or tympanitis? — A, I 
lave. 
j <X Have you been in Court during the whole of this trial, Mr. Holmes? — 
A.l have. 
\ Q. Having heard all the evidence that has been given, have you formed an 
i>pimon as to the cause of the death of Mr. Wells's cow ? — A. I have. 
1 Q. And as to the cause of the ailments that aflected the other cattle? — 
'l. I have. 
Q. What is that opinion? — A. That opinion is, that the cause of the 
:hange that took place, that is to say, the cause of the illness of these animals 
vas the cause of having a food that the stomach had not been used to, for 
ome ten days or a fortnight, I believe, was the time stated. The mangold- 
vurzel and turnijis just at this time of the year contain a great deal of 
uoistiure. From the 7th to about the 18th of P'ebruary there was an immense 
[uantity of moisture, and I think I named that there was a great deal of 
iioisture this winter, and the weather being very mild little sprouts made 
heir appearance very abundantly both from wurzel and from the turnip, and 
0 large have some of these sprouts been that they have actually grown out 
nto leaf So long and large have some of these sprouts been that they have 
iroken out into green leaf. The wurzel, I believe it is well known, is charged 
vith a great deal of sugar. So much for the particular food that these 
. nimals had been taking up to the time that the cake was introduced. When 
his cake was first given to them, instead of having a smaller quantity 
rhich is recommended to be given, they commenced at first Avith a larger 
uantity. 
Mr. Justice Blackburn : I do not understand you. I never heard of anj'- 
'Ody recommending a smaller quantity, nor have I heard that there was ever 
smaller quantity than this given. 
The Witness : I may observe, my Lord, that every farmer that is in the 
abit of commencing with cake invariably commences with two or three lbs. 
f cake, and then running on to a larger quantity. 
Mr. Justice Blackburn : Very well, wait a moment ; that I understand. 
The Witness : They commence with a smaller quantity, say from two to 
hree or four lbs., and then they will increase from that small quantity by 
.ogrees up to 14 lbs. a day for the same animal. And to this sudden change, 
[1 the case of the animals of Mr. Wells, I attribute the sole cause of the 
Ivmptoms of these animals generally, and their showing the peculiar symptoms 
it they did. I believe that was in consequence of the wurzel, as I said 
ic, being so charged ^vith moisture, and from these sjirouts being exteu- 
\ uly thrown out, and also that there is so much sugar in the mangold that 
■hen this food has been brought iuto contact with fresh food — with so nuicli 
s 6 or 7 lbs. of linseed-cake — there has been a fermentation set uji very 
uickly; gas quickly follows, and hence the distension that we hear of; so 
:aich so that we are told the animal can scarcely breathe or move, and the 
Dngue is protruded. This is what I consider to be the cause of the illness of 
lie animals in question ; but in all cases in beasts you may give other ingre- 
iients, and, if they liave not been used to it, it will produce the same eflect. 
have seen instances, but not to such an extent. For instance, I have seen 
1 VOL. Yin.— S. S. 2 K 
