STllINGHALT. 387 



feet were lifted up : the belly and pastern joints (or fronts of the 

 fetlocks) being both denuded of hair in consequence of this terrible 

 battering." Such is part of an account I am about to give of this 

 interesting narrative, from the pen of the late Mr. Youatt, contained 

 in The Veterinarian for August 1838. The dissection " was 

 conducted (at the Royal Veterinary College) by Mr. Spooner, 

 occasionally assisted by Mr. Sewell and Mr. Ferguson. The fol- 

 lowing was kindly dictated by Mr. Spooner :" — 



The muscles, with iheu faschice, as well of hind as fore ex- 

 tremities, exhibited their natural character, with the single ex- 

 ception of a " rather darker yellow in colour than is usually found." 

 The crural and lumbar nerves were in appearance healthy. But 

 " the sciatic nerve, at the aperture through which it escapes from 

 the spine, was darker in colour than is usual, being of a yellowish 

 brown hue. Its texture was softened, and its fibrillse somewhat 

 loosely connected together. The nerve was of its usual size. But 

 on tracing it from the ischium, in its course through the muscles 

 of the haunch, several spots of ecchymosis here and there presented 

 themselves, and they were more particularly marked on that part of 

 the nerve which is connected with the sacro-sciatic ligament. As 

 the nerve approached the hock, it assumed its natural colour and 

 tone ; and the fibres given off from it to the muscles situated inferior 

 to the stifle joint were of a perfectly healthy character. On taking 

 out a portion of the nerve where it appeared to be in a diseased 

 state, it was found that this ecchymosis belonged to the neurilema 

 surrounding the whole internal fibres. It was confined to the mem- 

 branous investiture of the nerve; for the substance of the nerve, 

 when pressed from its sheath, presented a perfectly natural cha- 

 racter." 



The spinal marrow and brain, and their coverings, were entirely 

 free from anormal 'appearance. 



The joints of the hind extremities were all likewise healthy in 

 aspect. 



" From the present post-mortem examination, and many others . 

 which Mr. Spooner had previously instituted, he was of opinion 

 that this peculiar affection is not referrible to any diseased state of 

 the brain or spinal cord, or to any local affection of the muscles of 



