III.— AFFECTIONS OF THE TURBINATED BONES IN 



THE HORSE. 



A FEW days ago, in making an examination of a horse which had 

 died in hospital, we discovered it had suffered from necrosis of the 

 turbinated bones. In drawing your attention to this condition I am 

 completing what I have already referred to during my surgical patho- 

 logical lectures on diseases of the nasal cavities. 



In the horse the turbinated bones are subject to various diseased 

 conditions, primary or secondary in character, of which, up to the 

 present time, only incomplete and confused descriptions have been 

 given. 



The few clinical observations published concerning these con- 

 ditions refer (i) to hypertrophy and eburnation of the turbinated 

 bones ; (2) to tumour formation within them ; (3) to mucous degenera- 

 tion ; and (4) to empyema of their cavities and to necrosis. 



In certain horses chronic nasal catarrh is followed by considerable 

 thickening of the pituitary membrane, and hypertrophy of both tur- 

 binated bones, or only of the anterior. This hypertrophy is some- 

 times general, but more frequently partial. The mucous membrane 

 becomes hyperplastic, irritated, fibrillated, is usually pale and firm, 

 but sometimes reddish and less consistent. The anterior turbinated 

 bone, hypertrophied and firm, forms a conical or cylindrical poly- 

 pous mass, which compresses neighbouring parts, causes atrophy of 

 the posterior turbinated bone, and more or less completely fills the 

 nasal cavity on the affected side. Sometimes, as in the case men- 

 tioned by Stockfleth, it becomes as hard as bone or ivory. It ma\- 

 attain such dimensions as inwardly to displace the nasal septum, above 

 the nasal bone, and externally the wall of the sinuses, into which it 

 penetrates. There is always more or less abundant, sometimes 

 foetid, muco-purulent discharge. The diminution in size of the nasal 

 cavity impedes respiration, and gives rise to an abnormal whistling or 

 roaring sound. Later the upper portion of the face becomes de- 

 formed, the diseased side projecting, in consequence of the upper wall 

 of the nasal cavity and of the sinuses being pushed up from below. 



