78 
A CASE OF STABBING. 
an aggravated nature, although, up to this time, she was doing her 
work as usual. To make short work, I bled the mare, gave her 
some opening medicine, ordered the place to be diligently and regu- 
larly fomented, and to have warm emollients applied, and was pre- 
paring to leave, when the usual question was put, " How had the 
wound been produced]” To which I made answer, that it was 
my firm opinion it had been done by some person, either in 
his passion or maliciously, and to every appearance with the stable 
fork, or some such like instrument ; since the wounds had evi- 
dently been inflicted from behind, they pointing forwards, as indi- 
cated by the probe ; but from the swelling that had taken place, 
and the smallness of the wounds, I could not satisfactorily examine 
them, so I left, this time, desiring to be called again should the 
symptoms get worse. 
2 6th . — Called again ; and upon my arrival at once saw that the 
mare was near the point of dissolution, and that any remedial 
means I could use would prove of no avail, and so forbore any 
further treatment : at the same time desiring to have an opportunity 
after death to make an examination. 
21th . — I received word that the mare was dead, and that, equally 
to my discomfort, they had made an examination. The wounds 
were found both to have penetrated quite through the integu- 
ments, and to have entered the cavity of the abdomen ; and so 
ended the affair. Now, from the hint thrown out by me respecting 
the nature of the wounds, the servant man having charge of the 
mare was immediately suspected. After her death, he was taxed 
with the deed, which at first he stoutly denied; but my explana- 
tion being told him, and likewise he being threatened to be car- 
ried before the magistrates, in his simplicity, if so I may call it, 
he confessed that it was he who did it ; and if they would not pro- 
secute, he would forfeit his wages, and leave his place. To which 
proposal consent was given, the master wisely considering the less 
he had to do with such a vile hireling the better. This same person 
was heard to say, he would do his master a private injury before 
he left. I do not write this paper in the expectation that it will in 
the least conduce to the merit of The Veterinarian, but as a 
small token of my desire to do all in my humble power to advance 
that science of which I have laboured hard to attain a little know- 
ledge, and at the same time to shew with what brutal authority 
man can vent his spleen upon an inferior animal. 
I have forborne entering into any particular explanation about 
treatment, as I consider that a waste of time. 
Your well-wisher. 
