48 TEEATMENT OF DISEASES 



On removing the skin from the sides of the face of such a subject, 

 and dissecting the muscles and periosteum (covering of bone), th^ 

 bones appear to have undergone a softening process, and particles 

 can be separated by means of the finger nails; at the same time if a 

 transverse section of any of the shaft bones be made, they will be 

 found to have imdergone structural changes; for example, thpy will 

 not only appear softened but honey-combed, and many of the laminae 

 and cartilaginous braces will have been decomposed or dissolved, so 

 that the bone looks like fibrous net work. In most cases, the vacui- 

 ties and canals are filled with material resembling soft cheese, which 

 is probably fatty matter; this occasionally degenerates into pus. 



Dr. Gordon forwarded me, some time ago, the head of a horse 

 who had long been the subject of this malady. The transverse di- 

 ameter of the bones of both upper and lower jaw, was very much 

 enlarged ; the periosteum was very highly organized with bloodness ; 

 the bones were softened and elastic, and could be easily cut with a 

 knife. On submitting them to the acid test, earthy matter was found 

 in excess, and by burning them, it was found that they contained 

 very little animal matter; hence I was led to infer that the disease 

 is one of mal-nutrition. 



The articular surfaces of various bones, and sometimes all the 

 bones of the body, are often ulcerated and studded with incrusta- 

 tions; this explains the why and wherefore of the sudden and tor- 

 menting pains which animals suffer, and goes to show how little of 

 benefit can be expected from the ordinary treatment, which is prin- 

 cipally directed to the enlarged jaws. 



On removing these diseased cartilages from the articulating sur- 

 faces of bones, the latter are found to be affected — in fact, ulcerated. 

 In some cases the ligaments and tendons are-separated by decompo- 

 sition or necrosis of bone, and the animal "breaks down," as the 

 saying is. 



The subjects of this disease sometimes show lameness in the ver- 

 tebral region, and in that of the head of the thigh bone; in such 

 cases we may safely infer that the lameness is of an articular char- 

 acter, and the inter- articular cartilages, as well as the surfaces of 

 the bones, are incrustrated and ulcerated; in this condition the ani- 

 mal is liable to become useless, "or break down" at any moment. 

 The following briefcase will illustrate what is meant by " breaking 

 down:" 



I was requested a short time ago by Prof. Muzzy to examine an 

 aged gray gelding, the subject of lameness in the near bind foot; 

 examination revealed considerable heat, tenderness and tumefaction 

 around both the hind coronets, and both angles of the lower jaw 

 much enlarged in their trans^-erse diameters. I advised the owner 

 to let the animal have a run at grass; accordingly he was sent into 

 the country, about thirty miles (which was too long a journey for 

 him); a few days afterwards Prof. Muzzy received a letter, stating 

 that the horse's strings (tendons) became loose, that he broke dow'n 

 and traveled on his fetlocks, and was then dead. I infer that necro- 

 sis took place and the extensor tendons lost their attachment, wliich 

 accounted for his "breaking down." 



Prof Varnell lately consulted Dr. Harley of London in reference to 

 this formidable malady, which is said to have been almost unknown 



