200 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



The actual disease which occasions a loss or increase of tem- 

 perature of the external surface of the body, horns included, 

 may be, and often is, located in either the brain, stomach, or 

 bowels, and at other times is the result of local congestions of 

 the lungs and other parts — mere effects — the results of pre- 

 existing disease ; therefore, I contend that the term horn-ail, 

 when used to express the condition of parts sympathetically 

 affected or aroused, throws no light on the true nature of the 

 disease under which the animal labors. 



I shall contend that neither the augmentation nor decrease 

 in the temperature of the horns constitutes actual disease of the 

 same ; but may indicate a loss of equilibrium in the circulation 

 of blood. If the horns are at fever-heat, and the surface of 

 the body be cool, we know that the brain or its membranes may 

 be actively or passively congested ; on the other hand, should 

 the horns and the extremities be cold, it goes to prove that the 

 animal is the subject of internal congestion or disease. But 

 why locate it in the horns, when in the animal economy are 

 found so many hundred parts, sections, and divisions of parts, 

 more important, sensitive, and of vastly more consequence to the 

 preservation of vital integrity, than the horns "^ The variations 

 in the temperature of the horns and other parts of the body, 

 which the horn-ail theorists neglect to notice, enter into a class 

 of symptoms from and by means of which an educated sur- 

 geon makes up an intelligent and correct diagnosis, and, con- 

 sequently are only of value, in point of fact, in so far as they 

 go to show the actual state of the whole animal mechanism. 



The proposition admits of the following appropriate and 

 convincing illustration : A man is attacked with acute disease 

 of the liver, and almost always experiences a pain in the right 

 shoulder, a purely sympathetic affection. Now it would be 

 very ridiculous for a physician to overlook the diseased con- 

 dition of the liver, and merely prescribe for the sympathetic 

 shoulder-lameness, and call it " shouUer-aiV Such ignorance 

 is calamitous, but does not often occur when the educated phy- 

 sician is employed ; otherwise it doeg, and many such cases 

 arc quite fresh in my memory. Now, instead of prescribing 



