Southport Telegraph

SHOCKING SUFFERING OF A HORSE.

An English provincial paper gives the following account of the agony of a noble horse, which had been bitten by a mad dog. A month intervened between the bite and the death of the horse.

He was driven knee-deep in the water; but, though showing no marked repugnance to water, he refused to drink. Without taking off the harness, he was again placed in the stable. In about three hours afterwards the young man, thinking the animal would now be somewhat cooler, re-entered the stable, but found him wilder than ever-striking out furiously, and making every imaginable effort to bite. After great risk and exertions, however, he succeeded in taking off the harness, with the exception of the collar. Throughout the day, every succeeding hour added to the intensity of the animal's fury, and by evening his contortions of rage and agony were absolutely terrific. By that time the door was strongly barricaded, in the fear that he should make his escape.

Two or three individuals, anxious to see the animal in the heat of his paroxysms made way into the loft above him. The scene was appalling in the extreme. Below them was the infuriated brute, which was dimly seen through a dense cloud of steam, fed by the fires which raged through and distended his nostrils. Every vein and muscle was frightfully swollen. He had broken his binding; torn his collar to tatters, and was kicking and stamping furiously through the stable. Now he would neigh, now heave groans of the deepest agony, then, shaking as with an ague fit, would gather himself up, and suddenly with a scream, spring aloft, making the very house shake with his fall. Then he would groan again, or, gnashing his teeth, roll his eyes wildly and savagely around. He ever and anon tore with his teeth the flesh from his breast, would shake for a moment the quivering and bleeding carcass, and then dash it from him, as if he found relief in the intensity of his sufferings. The walls of the stable were now literally covered with blood and foam; and in this state the animal continued till exhausted nature gave way. The poor brute died about two o'clock on the following morning. On examination, the carter's arm was found to be dreadfully lacerated, and other parts of his body severely injured. However, we are happy to state, that his wounds, as yet, give no symptoms of danger, but bear every appearance of healing much sooner than could have been expected.