Plea of general issue

In every such action the defendant may plead the general issue and give all special matter in evidence at any trial to be had thereupon, and if the plaintiff becomes non-suited or discontinues the action, or if upon a verdict or an application to strike out the plaintiff’s statement of claim on the ground that it discloses no reasonable cause of action judgment is given against the plaintiff, the defendant shall receive costs and have such remedies for them as a defendant has in other cases where costs are given by law.