784 
DEATH OF A BOY FROM GLANDERS. 
iiiust be proved that he had some knowledge, and being 
aware of it they would have to judge how far he could be 
presumed to know the fatal nature of the disease. If such 
knowledge should be brought home, it would be not merely 
a case for blame, but an offence which the law would regard 
as manslaughter. If a man placed a savage bull in a field 
where there was a highway to the public, and death resulted 
by an attack from the animal, the owner would be respon¬ 
sible. The same would apply to a horse. If it had a disease 
which would communicate infection so as to kill a person, the 
owner could not certainly be allowed to escape with impunity, 
and not be considered responsible. The consequences would 
be most serious. It would be necessary, first of all, to learn 
whether the owner was aware of the existence of the disease, 
and then whether he entrusted the boy with the horses. It 
would also be requisite to ascertain if the boy himself was 
informed of the existence and nature of the disease; if he 
was, it might go to lessen the responsibility of the employer, 
but if he was ignorant, the case against him would be strength¬ 
ened. He thought the inquiry might be attended with some 
difficulty as to ascertaining who the responsible persons were, 
but it must be prosecuted, on account of its serious character. 
It might be that some other persons had been placed in charge 
of the infected animals, and their lives would be endangered. 
Having cautioned the jurors not to touch deceased, the 
coroner desired them to view the body. On their return, 
Mr. F. Stockwell, house-surgeon of the hospital, was sworn. 
He deposed—Deceased was brought to the hospital last 
Saturday week, on a ticket of admission given by Mr. Feare, 
of Camerton, the agent of J. Jarrett, Esq., and which bore 
the deceased’s name. He appeared to be suffering from 
rheumatism. He was attended by Dr. Coates daily, and was 
in charge of Mr. C. S. Barter, house-physician. When I 
saw him first, on Sunday night last, he was affected b}^ a 
pustular eruption on the face, his eyes were swollen and 
closed by erysipelas. I suspected the disease to be 
glanders, or farcy. Deceased’s mother was questioned by 
Dr. Coates in my presence on Monday night, as to whether 
he had the charge of horses. She replied that he had. She 
was then asked if the horses were known to be diseased. 
She stated that two were diseased, but she could not state 
the nature of the disease. On the following day the boy’s 
father came, and gave me the same account as the mother. 
I asked him if the horses were glandered, but he could not 
give me any definite reply. I told him to ascertain parti¬ 
culars and let me know. I have not seen him since. He 
