A DICTIONARY. 



239 



standing, they are found to consist on their [ equalize the circulation, and excite healthy 



exterior surface, of a shell of osseous matter 

 similar to that of the original bone ; conse- 

 quently, when an exostosis has been formed 

 in the manner here described, the shell of 

 the original bone becomes absorbed, and 

 cancelli are desposited in its place. 



" In the mean time, the outer surface of 

 the exostosis acquires a shell resembling 

 that of the bone itself. When the exostosis 

 has been steeped in an acid, and by this 

 means deprived of its phosphate of lime, 

 the cartilaginous structure remains of the 

 same form and magnitude as the diseased 

 deposits ; and, as far as I have been able to 

 discover, it is effused precisely in the same 

 manner as healthy bone. 

 - " An exostosis, abstractedly considered, 

 does not appear to occasion much incon- 

 venience to the animal, except in the early 

 stages. A ringbone, confined to the pastern 

 bones, is of little consideration ; but, should 

 it show itself at or near the joint, it seldom 

 fails to produce lameness, which is often of 

 a permanent nature. Lameness, therefore, 

 is not an invariable symptom of exostosis ; 

 for most splents, and many ringbones, and 

 even spavins, exist without lameness. 

 When this disease invades ligamentous 

 structure, however, lameness generally ac- 

 companies it, — an effect we would refer to 

 the excessive tenderness of the part. Should 

 the tumor interfere, either from its bulk or 

 situation, with the motions of joints, mus- 

 cles, or tendons, lameness is a concomitant, 

 and often irremediable, symptom." 



It appears that various constitutional and 

 local remedies have been tried for the pre- 

 vention and dispersion of exostosis, viz., 

 " the actual cautery, ammonia, cantharides, 

 caustic, and setons." The constitutional 

 remedies are of the same destructive nature, 

 and have but too often aggravated that 

 which they were intended to relieve : we do 

 not believe that any specific treatment has 

 ever had the honor of curing these forms of 

 disease ; that course of treatment we have 

 ever found the most satisfactory that is cal- 

 culated to promote the general health by 

 sanative means ; we cleanse the system, 



action to the parts by stimulants and coun- 

 ter-irritation (if the parts are inactive) ; 

 poultices, fomentations, etc., if there is pain, 

 or increased action. If this is done early, 

 exostosis is easily arrested, unless an hered- 

 itary taint is manifest. 



The removal of exostosis by an operation, 

 we are told, has been performed with suc- 

 cess, and no doubt there are cases in which 

 it may safely be performed ; yet it cannot 

 be successful on spavined horses, the nat- 

 ural termination of spavin being anchylosis 

 of the bones of the hock and inter-articular 

 cartilage. A knowledge of this fact has led 

 men to suppose that Nature has turned a 

 summerset ; and they endeavor to set her 

 right with the firing iron and the imple- 

 ments of death ; whereas, if her intentions 

 were aided, the result would prove more 

 satisfactory. 



Extravasation. — The escape of blood 

 or other fluids from their proper vessels. 



Eye. — (See part first.) 



Falling of the Yard or Penis. — This 

 disease sometimes happens to horses and 

 bulls, in consequence of swelling, excres- 

 cence, and ulceration of the parts, some- 

 times of an obstinate or malignant nature. 

 It may also be occasioned by too frequent 

 sexual intercourse. It may also depend on 

 weakness of the part ; and, when this is the 

 case, there is no ulceration nor excrescence 

 about it. If it depend on debility, then 

 tone up the whole animal, and wash the 

 parts, first with castile soap, then with cold 

 water. If it result from ulceration, wash 

 with weak vinegar and water, afterwards 

 with a mixture of powdered charcoal and 

 water. The latter may be thrown up the 

 sheath with a common syringe or injection 

 pipe. When the ulcers show a disposition 

 to heal, a little powdered bayberry bark 

 will generally complete the cure. When 

 excrescences form on the sheath or inside 

 of it, they should be taken off by applying 

 a ligature tight around their base. 



False Quarter. — This can hardly be 

 considered as a distinct complaint, but, 

 more properly, as a consequence resulting 



