74 THE DANGER OF ADMINISTERING DRENCHES. 
healthy, except a small portion of the ileum, which was slightly 
inflamed. The kidneys were likewise enlarged, and their internal 
structure diseased, and most so in the cortical portion. On ex- 
posing the mucous membrane of the larynx, trachea, and bronchial 
tubes, it was found quite black, and their canals were filled with 
frothy fluid, containing evidence of the medicine, and also small 
bits of masticated hay, both of which had collected within the 
bronchial tubes. There was likewise a collection of partly masti- 
cated hay within the larynx, nearly as large as my fist, which the 
animal in her agony had endeavoured to swallow, though, from 
the paralysed state of the epiglottis, it had “ gone the wrong way,” 
clearly proving the animal had died from suffocation, arising from 
giving the medicine out of a bottle. During the post-mortem 
examination, no Mr. Johnson or Mr. Cope made their appearance, 
Cope saw the carcass after I was gone. 
This will be another fact added to those already recorded by 
you, to shew that no draught can be given to an animal without 
danger, unless the pump were to be used. This case likewise 
strengthens my opinion, as recorded in your September Number 
for 1848, viz. that a horn is far preferable to a bottle. 
If I had not been well established in my practice, and deter- 
mined likewise to see this animal opened, this case might have 
turned out my ruin, in consequence of Mr. Johnson’s standing 
being so high, he being one of the magistrates of this district. It 
is my opinion that these two gentlemen intended to have brought 
me in culpable, perhaps of poisoning this animal ; for they were 
evidently chagrined, and are, even to this day, at the course I pur- 
sued. I hope you will insert this, entire, in your Journal, as a 
warning to young men to make post-mortem examinations in such 
cases, and to take witnesses with them. I have every reason to 
believe, had I been accompanied in the post-mortem examination 
by a professional person, that the affair would have been set right 
between my employer and me ; but it is not so. I was told by 
Mr. Johnson, a short time ago, and not in the most agreeable 
manner, that I was altogether “ wrong” about his cow. 
Your’s most respectfully. 
*** This narrative contains an extremely hard case. Surely 
Mr. Johnson will not accuse Mr. Cox of the death of his cow. Mr. 
Cox, it is true, acted perhaps injudiciously in not administering 
the drench with his own hands ; but it was Mr. Johnson’s men 
that caused the cow’s death. — E d. Yet. 
