THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. . 267 



Among the diseases mistaken for horn-ail, I name indigestion ; 

 and this disease is almost as prevalent among neat stock as it 

 proves to be among the members of the human family in this 

 country. Loss of cud, or a cessation of rumination, is one of" 

 the principal symptoms of acute indigestion. I made an au- 

 topsy, in a case of this character, only a short time ago, and 

 found the abomasum, or fourth compartment of the stomach, 

 enormously distended with food ; and on removing the same the 

 mucous membrane readily peeled off. I particularly pointed 

 out the pathological appearances as they occurred, to the owner 

 of the animal ; but as he had made up his mind and the neigh- 

 bors confirmed his opinion, that the animal was the subject of 

 horn-ail, he still believes that the trouble first commenced in 

 the horns, which had been bored in several places ! 



I am not contending that the vascular membrane within and 

 without the osseous structure of the horns and contiguous parts, 

 enjoys immunity from disease ; it is subject to it, as are other 

 parts precisely identical in function and structure. But I am 

 exposing a false theory, which confounds functional and organic 

 diseases with their symptoms or manifestations. 



A local disease of the horns is not unusual. For example : 

 A blow in the region of the base of the horn often occasions a 

 local affection ; and this is not to be wondered at when we know 

 that the parts in this region are merely defended by a thin 

 cuticular envelope, and therefore it offers but little protection 

 to the sub-tissues. This region is denominated by brutal men 

 the " tender spot ; " and in view of subduing a restive animal 

 they aim their bludgeons in this direction with terrible effect. 

 Local injuries of this character, and those occurring in the 

 savage encounters which horned animals frequently engage in, 

 the boring of their horns, and sawing them off, etc., etc., are 

 accidents and processes more or less operative in exciting a 

 local affection. 



A local disease of this character admits of the following 

 demonstration ; viz., percussion. Percussion is the art of 

 striking various parts of the body with a view of ascertain- 

 ing the seat of disease. Every substance, when thrown into 



