170 On the General Treatment of the Feet, 



lameness in the Feet^ and which bas^ indeed, been insisted upon 

 by some teachers of the Veterinary art, as a frequent one ; namely, 

 ossification of the sensitive elastic fibres which connect the hoof to 

 the coffin bone, may not take place, without those external signs of 

 heat with which common inflammation of the part is always attended. 

 For we know that the basis of bone is Cartilage, or, (as it is called in 

 common language) Gristle ; and that it is that part^f bone which is 

 first formed, and afterwards becomes hardened by the gradual deposit 

 of Phosphat of Lime ; the fat and gelatine, especially the latter, com- 

 municating the requisite toughness and strength to the bone. 



And, therefore, not only in the infancy of all animals, that is at 

 the time of the first formation of the bones, but even during the 

 lifetime of the full grown animal, this deposit of the earthy parts of 

 bone, is constantly going on, in order to make up for the defficiency 

 which is constantly accruing, from the action of the absorbents, in 

 these, the solidest parts of our bodies. 



Now, the main fact connected with these important phoenomena, 

 was proved, though not discovered, about forty years ago, by Pro- 

 fessor Monro, the elder, who purposely reddened the bones of young 

 living pigs, by mixing a dye-stuff, called Madder, in their food; but 

 it was reserved for Dr. Rutherford's philosophical ingenuity, to 

 «hew us, upon chemical principles, how this very curious circum- 

 stance takes place. If, therefore, it be indisputable, that Cartilage, 

 the ordinary basis of bone, is rendered solid by the deposition of 

 Phosphat of Lime, without any feverish or morbid action, may not 

 the conversion of other parts into bone take place occasionally witfa- 

 •out any external signs of inflammation. 



