HORSE CAUSE. 
472 
must impute the apparent unreasonableness of the verdict which 
we so frequently meet with in'the cases regarding the soundness 
of horses. Though the principal, this is not the sole difficulty 
which presents itself in a horse-cause : along with medical know¬ 
ledge should be combined, at least, an ordinary insight into the 
nature, treatment, and uses of horses, in order to direct the mind 
to a safe and just conclusion. The manifest want of such know¬ 
ledge, forms, it is most true, but a speck upon the phase of the 
moon, as contrasted with the splendid light of truth and justice 
reflected from every part of that master-piece of human institu¬ 
tions—a British court of judicature; still, were there a law-court 
possessed of such a knowledge, there cannot arise a question about 
the advantages that must accrue from it. 
The case before us appears to be of the class of those whose un¬ 
fortunate issue may be (without casting any reflection whatever 
on the jury or gentlemen of the law) ascribable to want of closer 
and more enlarged acquaintance with the subject on which they 
had to arbitrate*. It is true that they collected much information 
from the evidence; but it was this very knowledge, fresh acquired as 
it was, which became in their hands an instrument of terror, inas¬ 
much as they possessed not the discrimination how to use it. The 
facts of the case, bearing on the question at issue, are briefly 
these:— 
On the 15th of May, Dobson sells his horse to Edmonds for 
£80 ; next day, Edmonds sends the horse to the Veterinary Col¬ 
lege for examination, whence he is brought back with a certificate 
from Mr. Sewell, that he has enlargement and ossification of 
the cartilage of the foot, and is consequently unsound. The same 
day he is returned to Dobson, who refuses to take him back: 
the result of which is, that the animal is placed at livery (in no¬ 
body’s name) in Knightsbridge. The next day, Dobson shows 
the horse to Mr. Percivall, who pronounces him to be sound. 
The day after, Edmonds arrests Dobson for £80. Dobson finds 
. bail. Edmonds then brings his action for the recovery of the 
£80. In the interval, the horse is sent a second time to the Ve- 
terinaiy College, and on this occasion is shown (not to Mr. 
Sewell, but) to Mr. Coleman, who returns a written certificate to 
say, that he sees no cause of ■ unsoundness in the animal. The 
day of the trial (Nov. 19th) the horse is examined (for the plain¬ 
tiff) by Mr. Lythe, who finds ossification of the cartilage, and 
(with Mr, Sewell) considers such to be an unsoundness. Periy 
afRims that the horse was never known to be lame in the regi¬ 
ment (in which he had served for three years, and up to the mo¬ 
ment of sale); and Fielder assures the court that the animal 
