642 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VETERINARY SURGEON. 
been done (and that it was performed in a masterly manner I can 
easily prove, notwithstanding the refractory disposition of the ani¬ 
mal, which you well know); after I had done it on a former occasion 
in your presence, to your entire satisfaction (and I will not yield on 
any occasion to any in my profession in performing either that or any 
other operation); after having paid every attention to your horse, 
nay, much more than ordinary attention, and having treated him 
in every respect as he ought to have been treated, I did not ex¬ 
pect to receive such a reward for my trouble; far less did I ever 
suppose that I should be thought responsible for his loss. I am 
certainly extremely sorry for your loss, in every respect; but do not 
consider myself in any way accountable for it, and cannot con¬ 
ceive why I should be called upon to make it up. I must here 
remark, that I do not consider you have sustained a great loss by 
his death, as he was previously rendered useless by the loss of his 
eyesight; and surely I cannot be considered as the cause of his 
blindness. But, perhaps, Mr. C. can account for that as well 
as for the cause of his death much better than I can do. For my 
part, I should wish to ask, why the disease, locked-jaw, of which 
the horse died, should arise from one only of the diseases with 
which he was previously affected, namely mange, or inflammation 
of the eyes, or the operation of bleeding (the wound of which was 
healed, or at least closed, previous to the attack of lock-jaw), in 
preference to the other; or whether they might not all combine in 
producing the disease ? or whether it might not arise from some 
other cause, totally distinct from all these ? I shall now conclude, 
by remarking, that I am convinced that this misunderstanding 
has entirely arisen from some mistatement of facts; and that I 
shall with pleasure meet you and my accusers, face to face; when 
I have no doubt of being able to clear myself of every imputation 
they may have laid to my charge.'” u I am, &c.” 
He was not content with this. He went to the riding-school. 
He demanded from Mr.-the substance of the conversation 
that had taken place between him and the owner of the horse. 
He taxed him with inexcusable intermeddling, and disgraceful 
ignorance; and he got from him the hesitating avowal, that a su¬ 
perior officer in the school had more to do with it than he had. 
Our practitioner attacked this second person, He threw the 
