OSTEO-POROSIS. 187 



with much pain, particularly the near fore and the off hind legs, 

 the knee and hock joints of which were hotter than natural, 

 slightly swollen, and tender when pressed upon. These symp- 

 toms were also present in the other two Umbs, but in a much 

 less degree of intensity. On causing the horse to be turned 

 round, or moved in a backward direction, a decidedly rigid state 

 of the loins was observed, and by pressing upon any part of the 

 back considerable pain was evinced. On examining the animal's 

 head, I was particularly struck with the enlarged and roundish 

 appearance of the facial region. Each ramus of the lower jaw^ 

 the upper maxillary, and the nasal' bones were evidently en- 

 larged, and pressure on them caused some amount of pain. On 

 looking into the mouth, I observed that the mucous membrane 

 was of a purplish tint, except at the margin of the gums, where 

 it was of a pinkish colour, crossed here and there by bluish 

 lines (veins). The lining membrane of the nasal passages and 

 the conjunctival membrane also were paler than natural. This 

 condition of the membranes, I was assured by Mr. Wallin, could 

 not have been caused by any medicine that had been given." 



In the other case, a chesnut horse, which Professor Varnell 

 examined, the joints were swollen, hot, and tender ; there was the 

 same rigidity of the back, and the peculiar colour of the mucous 

 membranes; but the enlargement of the bones did not exist. 

 This case had been ill for about six months. 



The post mortem examination revealed the following condition 

 of parts : — The internal organs, with the exception of a peculiar 

 pallor, showed no marks of disease. The chesnut horse was sent 

 to London, and on his arrival at Paddington Station he was 

 found unable to walk from the horse-box to the van that was 

 sent to take him to the Ptoyal Veterinary College. On his 

 attempting to walk, his fore legs gave way at the elbow-joint on 

 one side, and the shoulder-joint on the other, in consequence of 

 the articular and capsular ligaments, and the tendons of the 

 muscles, which are attached near to these joints, becoming 

 detached (as was found to be the case afterwards) from their 

 bony connections, by the tearing away of portions of diseased 

 bones. The horse was destroyed upon the spot, and the carcase 

 taken to the College for dissection. "The soft parts," says 

 Professor Varnell, " generally were paler than is natural, especi- 

 ally the muscles of those limbs which had been thrown out of 



