278 
VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
COUNTY COURT, MELTON MOWBRAY, April 6, 1854. 
[Before John Hildyard , Esq.) 
WRIGHT V. EDGSON. 
This action was instituted by the plaintiff (a highly re- 
spectable farmer and grazier of Sysonby), with a view to 
convince waggoners that they could not give poisonous 
substances to their masters’ horses with impunity, and to 
caution them of the dangers resulting from such an absurd 
practice. The sum claimed was £7, as part of the value of 
a horse which died on the 4th of March last. The post 
mortem examination clearly showed that the horse died from 
the effect of some vegetable poison, as the mucous coat of 
the stomach had a peculiar inflammatory blush. Considerable 
quantities of black, gritty, and insoluble substances were 
found accumulated in the caecum and colon, the mucous coat 
of which bowels was much thickened, and in such a state of 
inflammation as caused the death of the animal. The 
defendant admitted having given the horse bits of mandralce 
(white bryony root), but denied having given him any of the 
powder which Mr. Wright found concealed in the corn-bin. 
On testing this powder it yielded anisi seeds, fibrous vegeta- 
ble matter, which was probably the grated root of the white 
bryony, and an insoluble sediment, consisting of powdered 
glass, oyster shell, and a black flinty substance, which were 
identical with those substances that were found accumulated 
in the horse's intestines. His Honour found a verdict for 
the plaintiff, damages <£7 ; — £3 145. to be paid forthwith (this 
sum was due to Edgson for wages), and the balance to be paid 
by instalments of 5s. per month. 
We are fully aware of the losses which many agriculturists 
have sustained through the ignorance of their waggoners, 
whose credulity leads them to become the dupes of designing 
knaves,* whose dishonesty, unblushing effrontery, and plausi- 
bility, enable them to sell their poisonous compounds, which 
endanger the safety of valuable horses, and occasionally 
destroy the life of the animal, thereby injuring the character 
of agricultural servants, and depriving them of their hard 
earned wages. 
*** Dear Sir, — My object in sending you this communication 
* Edgson stated before bis honour, that he bought the powder of some 
man in Nottingham market, which might be the fact, as we have no lack of 
nostrum-vendors in most country markets. 
