A battery includes an assault. It is mainly distinguishable from an assault in the fact that physical contact is necessary to accomplish it. Battery includes all cases where: a party is struck by any missile thrown by another. But to throw water at a person is an assault; if any drops water fall upon him it is a battery. Riding a horse at a person is an assault; riding it against him is a battery. Pulling away a chair, as a practical joke, from one who is about to sit on it is probably an assault until he reaches the floor, for while he is falling he reasonably expects that the withdrawal of the chair will result in harm to him. When he comes in contact with the floor, it is a battery. [Winfield on Tort].
84 Read also: PUNSELL V. HORN, (1838) 3 N. & H & N.478 P. 564, 8A & E 602 BATTERY: Seizing and laying hold of a persons as to restrain him: Rawlings v. Till (1837) 3 M & W. 28 . BATTERY: Spitting in the face of another: The Queen v. Cotesworth, 1704 6 Mod. 172 . BATTERY: Throwing over a chair or carriage in which another person is sitting. HOPPER V. REEVE (1817) 7 Taunt. 698 . BATTERY: Throwing water over a person: PURSELL V. HORN (1838) 8A & E 602. BATTERY: Striking a horse so that it bolts and throws its rider: DODWELL V. BURFORD, (1681) 1 Mod. 24 .
