HORSE CAUSE-NISBETT V. KENT. 
343 
quence of the blood which had escaped after the heck had been 
tied up. He thought a lancet was not a proper instrument to 
bleed a horse with. 
By a Juror.—Never studied the veterinary art. Knows nothing 
of the college work, and is only a common farrier. 
Mr. Justice Park.—Very well, Sir; you are a very modest 
man. 
The plaintifPs groom proved that the horse was perfectly sound, 
and in good health. The value of the horse was about £60. 
Mr. Lee, a veterinarij surgeon of extensive practice, stated that, 
in his judgment, the proper instrument had not been used in 
bleeding the horse. For the sake of safety he always used a 
fleam in preference to a lancet. In the veterinary college Mr. 
Sewell always used the lancet whenever he bled, but never saw 
any other professor use it. The students always used the fleam. 
There was danger in using the lancet, for the puncture in the 
vein was always larger than the puncture in the skin. He believed 
that in the instance in question a branch of the main artery was 
wounded, and the vein cut through. 
Mr. Sergeant Wilde addressed the jury for the defendant, 
and contended that the lancet might be used with perfect safety, 
and that there was no sufficient proof of the arteiy having been 
wounded. 
Mr. Zachariah Huggins, the apprentice to the defendant, de¬ 
posed to the horse having been brought to the defendant's sta¬ 
bles, and stated that the uniform practice of the defendant was 
to bleed with the lancet. This horse was bled in the usual man¬ 
ner, and that the death of the horse was occasioned by the plain- 
tiff^s not complying ivith the defendanfs directions. The orifice 
was closed in the usual way. Mr. Kent told young Mr. Nisbett 
that he must lead the horse home quietly, and not ride him. He 
saw the young man soon after with a whip in his hand, and spurs 
on. Before the horse left the yard his neck was swollen a little, 
which was not an unusual thing in cases of bleeding. There w as 
nothing further that seemed to require the care of Mr. Kent at 
the time. 
Mr. Williams, a veterinary surgeon at Bath, stated that he 
was in considerable practice, and always used the lancet. In his 
opinion there was no danger in the use of it. It was by no means 
unusual for swelling to follow bleeding, and was no proof of the 
operation being improperly performed. It ivas also common for 
a horse, after having been bled, to bleed at the nose. He had seen 
nothing whatever in this case which could induce him to believe 
that the horse had died from the effects of the bleeding. He asso¬ 
ciated with a great many veterinaiy surgeons, and all of them. 
used the lancet. 
