CHAP. I.] CAUSE OP CONCRETIONS. 299 



as a bit of chaff, hardened by the heat ; but much 

 oftener it presents a perfect jiebble, that must have 

 been borne along by the force of the current, and in 

 the cleansing function of the kidneys got detained 

 and deposited there. If not entangled, as it were, 

 in the cellular membrane of this gland, such a 

 pebble will detach itself occasionally and descend 

 through one of the ureters into the bladder. For 

 full information as to the structure and functions 

 of these several viscera, the reader is again referred 

 to the second chapter of book the first, which treats 

 alone- of such matters ; as regards the ccecum, at 

 page 138 ; the kidneys, at page 152 ; the bladder, at 

 page 158. 



One original cause of such concretions has been 

 ascertained beyond contradiction, and as the infor- 

 mation may prevent its recurrence among a nu- 

 merous class of horse proprietors, we quote our 

 authority much at large, by way of preventive ad- 

 vice, seeing that a cure is at present beyond the 

 reach of art ; remedies worse than useless. Let us 

 hope, notwithstanding, that the mite which is here 

 contributed may not be thrown away, but incite 

 some future close observer of nature and her ways 

 to add hereto the result of his own inquiries, and 

 so increase the sphere of his utility in one respect, 

 since imperious circumstances have contracted it in 

 another and more obvious line of his profession — 

 the desire of gain. 



Millers' horses are most liable to contract this 

 disorder, and for obvious reasons : being large heavy 



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