LAMENESS, FROM VARIOUS CAUSES. 367 



deaJ. We infer that necrosis took place, and the extensor ten- 

 dons lost their at achment, which accounted for his breaking down. 



Prof. Varxell, lately consulted Dr. Harley, of London, in 

 reference to this formidable malady, which is said to have been 

 almost unknown in England until November, 1859, when several 

 cases occurred among some horses the property of Mr. Champion 

 Calcot, near Reading. Three of this gentleman's animals had 

 died, a fourth was not expected to live many days, and two others 

 ■were laboring under the same disease, in a less acute form. Tho 

 most singular feature of the disease, as it appeared on the prem- 

 ises of Mr- Calcot, was, that it did not appear to owe its origin 

 to any perceivable cause, and it was not known to be prevalent in 

 any other part of England. Still, our opinion is that it does 

 exist in that country, only, not being suspected, is not sought for. 

 It prevails very extensively among horses brought to Ohio, and 

 hundreds of horses have been purchased for the American Gov- 

 ernment having more or less enlargement of the lower jaw, yet 

 we do not believe that either seller or purchaser suspected the 

 same. This arises from a lack of knowledge on the subject, and 

 the same remarks, as far as our ignorance of the subject is con- 

 cerned, may apply to England. 



In answer to questions put to Mr. Calcot on the subject of man- 

 agement, etc., he contends that the affected animals had plenty 

 of exercise. There were no chemical factories or works in the 

 vicinity. One horse affected was purchased at a distance; the 

 rest had been bred on his farm. The sires and dams all appeared 

 free from the disease, and they were not all got by the same sire. 

 The food consisted of good grass, hay, pollard, oatmeal, and roots. 

 Other horses were on the farm, fed in the same manner as the 

 affected ones, yet they had no symptoms of the disease. (Perhaps 

 they will show symptoms when the jaws shall be examined. They 

 may have the disease, yet not be lame nor apparently ailing.) 

 Mr. Calcot never saw a case of the kind before. 



From the above testimony, we may infer that the causes of this 

 affection are not yet discovered in England; but our impression 

 is that overfeeding has a good deal to do in the production of 

 the malady. It appears to me that this disease, as I have already 

 stated, is one '-of malnutrition, or defective nourishment ; hence 

 may be considered as a sonrbutic affection, like that affecting the 

 human subject, which is known to be the result of faulty nutri* 



