808 
NEWS AND ITEMS. 
horse trouble that has killed so many animals in Western Ken¬ 
tucky. A great many choice horses have died in Daviess 
county in the past two months. At first it was generally 
thought that decayed corn produced ergot causing paralysis 
of the brain, but several post-mortems have dissipated this the¬ 
ory. Though not in his particular line, Dr. Early has given 
the subject special attention, and from the several subjects ex¬ 
amined concludes that decomposition of the brain, beginning 
in the left lobe of the brain, constitutes all the trouble. As 
for the origin of this peculiar malady he is not yet able to say. 
Mr. J. N. ]\Iiles has a valuable young horse that was always 
healthy until ten days ago, when he suddenly became crazy and 
blind, as if stricken with paralysis. Drs. Drury and Early both 
advised trephining the fro 7 it skiiU^ which was promptly done. 
The skin was cut and laid back from the forehead, and a clean 
cut hole bored through the skull with an inch angitr. Insert¬ 
ing the finger only a vacnnni could be found. The skin was 
then dropped back in place, but left loose so there could be free 
drainage. The wound bled slightly, but quite a quantity of 
water and matter were discharged from the brain ; the animal 
seemed relieved ; he can see pretty well now and is fast im¬ 
proving. Being a young horse the skull is expected to grow 
together, but for an old horse it might be well to use a silver 
plate in trephining. 
A Pennsylvania HorSe Case. —Robert F. Thomas vs. 
Peter German. The plaintiff alleges that he bought on Jan¬ 
uary 14th last from the defendant a horse of a dark brown 
color, four years old, in Heidelberg township, upon a warranty 
of the defendant that the horse was sound in every respect with 
the exception of a splint on one of the animal’s front legs. 
The price was to be $80, $50 to be paid after a trial of five 
days and the balance in two months. Also, that the defendant 
agreed that if the horse was not as represented by him he 
.should return it and receive back the $50 ; that he (the plain¬ 
tiff) being an inexperienced man told the defendant to tell him 
the truth, as he did not understand anything about horses; 
that afterward he was informed the horse was knuckled, and 
he told the defendant, who said he should take him to Dr. 
Keck and have him examined, and if Dr. Keck said he was 
knuckled he should fetch the horse back and receive his $50 ; 
that Dr. Keck informed him the horse was slightly knuckled, 
but that it might perhaps not injure him. The horse, however^ 
frequently tripped over on his knuckle. That he returned the 
