512 NEURITIS NEUROMA. 



the lumbar nerves ; otherwise the cord itself does not seem to have been 

 much compressed, and is perfectly healthy in structure. 



" Histologically, a fact of considerable interest is the almost com- 

 plete absence of cancer-cells in all the deposit. Some nuclei, granular 

 matter, and detritus, is all I can discover. Whether the cells have not 

 had time to form in the translucid gelatinous deposits, or have been 

 broken up and disintegrated in the encephaloid masses, it is difficult to 

 assert. That, however, the morbid appearances above described can 

 alone be attributed to carcinoma may be inferred from the multiplicity 

 of the deposits. Hearing that there was a rigidity observable at the 

 upper part of the neck, I was glad to see my expectations come true in 

 your note of the 5th inst. ; after having taken the trouble to disinter the 

 skeleton of the mare, you discovered disease in every way similar to 

 that of the lumbar spines affecting the second, third, and fourth cervi- 

 cal vertebrae. 



" Cadaveric inspection, moreover, revealed that form of deposit which 

 generally occurs in the shape of circumscribed masses, or of infiltration 

 within bone, viz., colloid disease and medullary cancer ; the latter with 

 effusion of blood, hence its soft consistence and blood-stained, or hsema- 

 toid, appearance. No inflammatory deposit, no suppuration, existed 

 in the osseous texture ; and we must notice the deadly tendency of the 

 growth, there being no attempts to limit it, but infiltrating, invading, 

 destroying, and transforming to its own nature all in its vicinity, per- 

 forating the spinal canal, unremittingly progressing to the annihilation of 

 life. These characters alone are sufficient to prove the malignancy of the 

 deposit, however scanty the evidence of the existence of cancer cells." 



NEURITIS, or inflammation of a nerve or its sheath, may 

 be said to be unknown in the lower animals, unless as 

 occurring after neurotomy, when the divided end of the 

 nerve has been subjected to some source of irritation. 



NEUROMA, or tumour on a nerve, is equally rare, though, 

 after the above named operation, a fusiform enlargement is 

 sometimes met with on the divided end of the metacarpal 

 nerve. It has a fibrous texture. If subject to continued 

 inflammation and pain, the tumoui may "be removed by 

 excision. 



