VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 629 
By the Jury. — The first time he examined the horse it was for 
practice, and not at anybody’s direction. 
Mr. John Wortley Axe , assistant-professor at the Veterinary 
College, London, said he examined the horse in London on the 
18th of February. It was then suffering from extensive cataract. 
The minimum period of the existence of opacity would be six 
weeks or two months. It was in its ultimate stage. He examined 
the horse for Mr. J. M. Davenport, and certified that it was suffer- 
ing from “ extensive cataract.” He did not detect spavins in the 
hind legs. 
Cross-examined.— He could not feel certain that he would have 
detected the cataract on the 13th, but he should think so. If it ex- 
isted at all on the 19th of December it would have been in the same 
state as on the 28th of February. Opacity might come on in ten days, 
but not such a cataract as the one in question. Cold would bring 
on ophthalmia — also dust or a blow. He looked for any and every 
defect, but did not find spavins. 
Re-examined. — Opacity in the superficial portion of the eye might 
prevent cataract in the lens being observable. A blow in the eye 
causing opacity would be plainly noticeable. 
By the Jury. — The cataract in the horse in question must have ex- 
isted more than ten days, because the opacity in the superficial 
portion, resulting from ophthalmia, had cleared away, and the cornea 
was as clear as could be expected with such a cataract. 
Mr. Sabin , recalled, said there was nothing externally visible, 
as though resulting from an accident while in the railway. 
William James said he had been in extensive practice in Oxford 
for nearly thirty years. He was called upon specially to examine 
the eyes and the hocks, and he certified on the 13th that the near 
eye was unsound from constitutional ophthalmia, and there were 
ossific deposits in both hocks. He was sure the disease in the eye 
was of long standing — not less than six weeks ; on the ground of 
the absence of acute inflammatory action in the eye. The spavins, 
too, were of old date. 
Cross-examined. — One of the results of constitutional ophthalmia 
was cataract. Called the disease “ constitutional ophthalmia” in 
his certificate ; did not say the horse had a cataract. 
By the Jury. — Constitutional ophthalmia is unsoundness. 
By his Lordship. — And is lasting. 
Daniel Butler Howell , veterinary surgeon, of Beading, said on 
the 6th of June the horse was blind in the near eye, and the other 
was far from being good. Both hocks were bone-spavined. The 
horse was sold and sent to France. 
Dr. Hill . — It was good enough for the Frenchmen — for eating. 
By Mr. Powell.— -It sold for 35 guineas. 
This was the case for the plaintiff. 
Mr. Powell , in opening the case for the defendant, said the issue 
was far more important to his client than the mere money con- 
sideration, because if the plaintiff’s case was correct it charged him, 
as a professional man. with either unskilfulness or neglect. He 
