160 
A. LIAUTARD. 
supposed to be purulent collection of the sinuses, and asking for 
advice as to the manner in which the operation of trephining 
ought to he performed; that a tooth had been pulled out already 
by a veterinary dentist; that this proved to be healthy ; that the 
owner was not aware of this fact; that Mr. Parks was to call on 
me; that I was not to tell him about it; and that an early reply 
would be appreciated, as it was an interesting case, and Dr. Mil¬ 
ler was anxious that the other veterinarians of Philadelphia 
should not have a chance to treat him. 
Thinking that the first duty in the matter was to inform Mr. 
Parks of the extraction of the healthy tooth, before attempting 
any further treatment, and that Dr. Miller or the owner would 
call on me, the letter was put aside and left unanswered. 
About the 2d of June I was called upon by Mr. Parks, and 
learned from him what he supposed to be the condition of the 
suffering animal: being the first intimation I had received, that 
6uch an operation had been performed. He asked me to see 
the horse and report his condition, with a view to his immediate 
destruction if I considered him beyond cure. 
Accordingly, on the 6th of June I went to Philadelphia, and 
was kindly met at the depot by Dr. Miller, who drove me to the 
stable where Prospero was kept. 
The day following my visit, I reported to Mr. Parks, who was 
absent from his office, and for whom I left a letter with a state¬ 
ment of my diagnosis and advising him to have the horse put out 
of his misery. Subsequently an order was received from him to 
destroy the poor animal, with directions to have his body, or such 
portions of it as might be of interest to the examiner, sent to the 
American Veterinary College. 
Obituary notices were forthwith published in the daily papers 
in New York ; the history of his life appeared in Turf \ Field 
and Farm , and the report was widely circulated that Prospero 
had been killed, being affected with big head, or osteo porosis. 
This was followed by another report, in which it was said that an 
error of diagnosis had been made; that the animal had only 
carious teeth, which had been operated upon, and that, I supposed, 
he would recover, as otherwise what would have been the use of 
