464 
DYSENTERY 
the disease in question. He has no doubt that the loss of the 
cattle was produced by drinking the water. 
Mr. J. Pyatt, veterinary surgeon. — I saw a cow of the 
plaintiff’s on the 27th of March last. She was in a dying state. 
She died. The intestines were highly inflamed through their 
whole extent, and ulcerated in many places. Has no doubt that 
the disease was produced by the water. Inflammation might 
arise from various other causes, but not connected with this 
peculiar train of symptoms. 
Mr. Pereira, Lecturer on Chemistry at St. Bartholomew’s 
Hospital, had likewise analysed these waters, as taken from the 
Syk Dyke in its present state, and from the sough, and from 
Mr. Hall’s pond. The first was pure — the others contained a 
considerable quantity of muriate of lime, and were loaded with 
putrid vegetable matter. Whether the frequent presence and 
action of these deleterious substances on the mucous membrane 
of the intestines, or their necessary influence on the constitution 
generally, were considered, there could be no doubt that the 
mortality among these cattle was to be traced to the empoisoned 
w'ater. 
Mr. Youatt has heard the whole of the evidence. With some 
slight variation in the different cases, he plainly recognizes, in 
the disease described, the dysentery of cattle. The usual symp- 
toms of dysentery are, a rough and staring coat — diminished 
secretion of milk — loss of appetite — loss of condition — purging 
which bids defiance to all medicine — mucous, and, at length 
bloody purging — and then death. In the accounts of the ap- 
pearances after death, given by Mr. Grieves and Mr. Pyatt, he 
recognizes those of dysentery, but in an aggravated form. There 
is no doubt that the disease was produced by the deleterious 
influence of the water. 
Verdict for the plaintiff, <£270 damages. 
I regard this as a very important trial, and deserving a place 
among the records of veterinary medicine. There can be no 
doubt as to the character of the disease. It w ? as, at least in its 
last stage, the dysentery of cattle, but in a more than usually 
aggravated form. It was not merely inflammation and ulceration 
of the large intestines — the usual distinguishing characteristics 
of dysentery,— -but these lesions extended through the whole of 
the intestinal canal. A more powerful agent than can be gene- 
rally traced was here employed — the water of the brook was 
surcharged with deleterious matter. 
The chloride of lime, although in small doses it may occa- 
