242 COMMENTS ON THE CASE OF BARRETT V. PREECE. 
Mr. Barrett bought the mare in question of Mr. Preece 
warranted sound. A few days afterwards she was driven 
two miles, taking the family to church, and was observed on 
the road to be lame behind ; and, as he believed, in the off-leg. 
I was written to, but did not see her for three or four days 
afterwards. On taking up the off-hind foot, I noticed a 
very bad thrush, accompanied with considerable destruction 
of the horn ; and said to Mr. Barrett, that I did not wonder 
the mare had gone lame over the stones, for if one struck her 
foot she could not avoid doing so, — fresh stones being laid 
on many parts of the road. There was also a thrush in the 
near hind foot, but not so bad as that of the off. I did not 
say on the trial they were the worst thrushes I had ever seen, 
but the worst I had seen for some time . I hope I shall not be 
accused of arrogance for remarking, that I think 1 know a 
thrush when I see it as well as Mr. Litt does. If the mare 
had not gone lame, Mr. Barrett would never have troubled 
himself about her, as he acknowledges he knows nothing 
about horses. 
Mr. Barrett wrote to Mr. Preece to make some arrange- 
ment about the mare, but the latter declined to have anything 
to do with her; and it was not till after he received a letter 
from Mr. Barrett’s solicitor that he went to Bryngwyn to see 
her, and took Mr. Litt with him. On their way the latter 
came to me in Oswestry, and I told him without reserve my 
opinion of the case, lie said it was very singular; I replied, 
that “ there was nothing singular in it,” and in my opinion 
the mare was unsound, and added, “ perhaps you may think 
differently.” I also told him that Mr. Barrett was a stranger 
to me ; that the only transaction I had had with him was 
respecting the mare, and I did not think he had any wish for 
law if it could be avoided ; adding that I thought they 
could easily settle the case. 
A week afterwards I accidentally met Mr. Barrett on the 
road, and he told me that Mr. Preece and Mr. Litt had been 
to Bryngwyn ; that Mr. Litt scarcely “ condescended to look 
at the mare’s feet, and said it was the first time he had heard 
of ragged heels being an unsoundness further, that Mr. 
Preece would have nothing to do with the mare, though he 
(Mr. Barrett) had offered to give him five pounds to take her 
back, as he did not wish to have any dispute, but that he was 
now determined the matter should be settled in a court of 
justice. I said, “Do not take your case into court on my 
single opinion, but let some other veterinary surgeon see the 
mare and hear what he says about it.” Mr. Crowe was 
therefore sent for. 
I had no communication with Mr. Crowe either directly 
