364 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



and the character of the lameness, it was veiy evident that it was 

 of an inter-articular character, and this is a pec uliar feature of this 

 affection. Then, again, the reader must bear in mind that the jaws 

 of animals do not dilate nor enlarge suddenly, nor make their ap- 

 pearance aii at once, like a meteor in the regions of space. The 

 affection is insidious, progresses in an almost imperceptible manner, 

 and usually escapes the notice of those who daily have charge of and 

 handle the animal, as the following case, which is selected from 

 among others, will serve to illustrate : 



A few years ago a gentleman purchased what then appeared as 

 a fine family horse — a sorrel gelding, aged five years. About the 

 beginning of March, one year after the purchase, in attempting to 

 walk the animal from one stable to another, but a short distance 

 off, he became suddenly lame in one of the hind limbs, low down, 

 toward the foot, and it was found almost impossible to urge him 

 forward. Finally, assistance was procured, and the animal had, 

 literally, to be carried into a stable. Our services having been 

 secured, we visited the sufferer, and found him standing on three 

 legs, the near hind one being placed resting on the toe. The parts 

 around the coronet were hot, and the patient was very unwilling 

 to have the parts handled. He seemed to suffer much pain, was 

 breathing hurriedly, and the pulsations were quick and wiry. The 

 near approach of any person seemed to terrify the animal, and he 

 actually trembled, from fear and pain, when urged to move. On 

 making an examination of the jaws, we found that both angles 

 of the lower jaw were enlarged to about two inches in thickness. 

 This explained the nature of the sudden and otherwise mysterious 

 lameness. The articulating surfaces of various bones, and the 

 bones themselves, had become diseased, as is often the case in 

 big jaw. The owner assured us that the horse had never before 

 been lame, and he was very much surprised to find the lower jaw 

 enlarged. 



Here the reader will perceive that the animal had been in the 

 owner's possession one year; had performed ordinary duty, yet 

 was the subject of a gradual enlargement of the jaw and a consti- 

 tutional disease, which probably existed, yet in a slight degree, at 

 the time of purchase. Hence we contend that the disease, in its 

 early stages, is of a hidden or insidious character, and requires some 

 tact and knowledge of the subject in order to detect it. 



Nature of the disease. — Big head and big jaw are ut one form 



