264 
MISCELLANEA. 
he could cure him or not. Then the difference between the sound value 
and the real value of the horse. As I say, notwithstanding it had a sore 
throat, and so on, the fact that the defendant paid sixty-six guineas for 
him is very strong evidence against him, but not conclusive, because it 
maybe explained away in the way he has done, and to which I have 
already alluded. But it is strong evidence that the animal was worth 
that at least. 
But the great and main question upon which your verdict will turn is 
this—Has the plaintiff satisfied you that the animal was unsound when 
he was sold to him, and warranted to be sound on the 18 th November ? 
You will decide upon the soundness of the animal first. If yon find 
that the horse was sound in November, of course the question of damages 
will become quite immaterial. You will then say, verdict for the 
defendant. If the horse was unsound in November, then you must 
assess the damages to be awarded to the plaintiff. 
After a short consultation the jury found a verdict for the defendant. 
ARMY APPOINTMENTS. 
War Office, Pall Mall, March 8, 1864. 
1st Dragoons.—Acting Veterinary Surgeon Thomas James 
Richardson to be Veterinary Surgeon, vice Evander Cham¬ 
bers, placed on half-pay; May 5th. 
MISCELLANEA. 
PRESERVED CORN. 
An experiment was lately made in Paris for the preserva¬ 
tion of corn from fermentation and the attack of insects by 
inclosing it in a metal vessel and exhausting the air. The 
experiment was made in the presence of forty persons, and 
succeeded perfectly. Ten hectolitres of wheat were placed in a 
metal vessel, and the air was exhausted. The vessel was 
opened after fifteen days, and the weevils, which were seen 
quite lively when the wheat w ? as placed in the vessel, had quit¬ 
ted their cells and were dead. They w T ere warmed, but did not 
stir. Being placed on white paper, they v T ere crushed and 
reduced to powder, without leaving any stain on the paper. 
Irom various experiments made on w heat under glass, it w 7 as 
found that the weevil retains life longer than any other insect 
w r hen deprived of air. 
