"Worried by an ass"?

[mckha489]

Fascinating. Does that mean that the ass gave Nathaniel tetanus from the bites inflicted upon him?

From Wiki.

Clostridium tetani is a common soil bacterium and the causative agent of tetanus. Vegetative cells of Clostridium tetani are usually rod-shaped and up to 2.5 μm long, but they become enlarged and tennis racket- or drumstick-shaped when forming spores. C. tetani spores are extremely hardy and can be found globally in soil or in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. If inoculated into a wound, C. tetani can grow and produce a potent toxin, tetanospasmin, which interferes with motor neurons, causing tetanus.


So he could have got it from the bite or from getting soil in the bite while he was trying to get out of the

[bbart]

A different surname spelling, but this HAS to be Nathaniel's son:

English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post 18 October 1825

Last week, as Mr Wild, brickmaker, of Calverton, was returning home from Nottingham market, with a mare and cart, the animal ran away and overturned the vehicle in a ditch, at the bottom of Calverton-hill, when the cart falling upon Mr. Wild, killed him on the spot.  The mare was afterwards found lying on her back in the ditch, and a faithful dog remained near, who would not suffer anyone to approach for some time: at length the unfortunate owner was discovered lying under the cart, but quite dead.   The deceased has left a wife and five small children. It is remarkable, that the father of the deceased lost his life through being worried by an ass, in Long Hedge-lane.

[Ruskie]

…. so one or the other in that case mckha489.  The Wild’s asses were vicious beasties. 

[suey]

Male donkeys if not castrated can be unpredictable. When you consider that they can be up to 60 odd inches at the wither if one becomes aggressive, generally due to hormones , you’re not going to come off well if one decides to turn on you.