A SINGULAR CASE* 
527 
To drop politics, however—If the country veterinary is ex¬ 
cluded from these honours and advantages, as I have already 
remarked, his experience, ranging over different classes of 
animals, and embracing a greater variety of circumstances, 
offers to an inquiring mind a much wider sphere of ob¬ 
servation and comment. That mind, therefore, is often the 
garner house of curious facts and notions which have never 
yet obtained publicity. Having, then, some claim to belong 
to this order myself, I have jotted down, from time to time, 
such things as seemed to me curious, in a professional point 
of view; and from these notes I purpose to draw up a series 
of articles for the pages of your journal, which, from their 
discursive and somewhat versatile character, I have desig¬ 
nated as above. 
Trusting that these “Opinions and Experiences” may 
meet with your approval, 
I remain, Sir, yours, &c., 
W. Litt, V. S. 
Shrewsbury; Aug. 10 th, 1852. 
A SINGULAR CASE. 
On the 11th of February, 1846, I was requested to attend 
a brown two-year-old colt, the property of Mr. John Starr, 
of the Moor, near Bishop’s Castle, in this county. Mr. 
Starr was, at that time, a very extensive farmer; and many 
of the London dealers will remember him as one of the best 
breeders of fashionable horses in Shropshire. The colt in 
question had been running out during the whole of the 
winter with several of his fellows; and had also been re¬ 
gularly fed with a certain quantity of hay and oats. In spite 
of this, however, he had fallen off considerably in condition; 
and within the previous few days had manifested a great in¬ 
disposition to stand up, although his appetite was not, in any 
degree, impaired: indeed, he even ate voraciously. Such was 
the history of the case, as I received it at the time; and the 
symptoms were not much more satisfactory. 
I found him lying down, eating eagerly of hay. His 
eye appeared clear and lively; indeed, almost unnaturally 
brilliant, although he was considerably emaciated. His pulse 
was about 70, thin and irritable; and his respiration hurried 
—upwards of 60 in the minute—short and painful. There 
was slight occasional cough, and he evinced some soreness 
over the region of the windpipe. He could not be induced 
to stand, even for a minute, when raised to his feet by force, 
