Williams, Fisher, and Udall: The Spavin Group. 19 
regarding the volume or density of that excretion. We became 
interested in relation to the amount of phosphates occurring in 
the urine of animals affected with this disease as compared with 
those in apparent health, but failed to carry these investigations 
to a conclusive stage. The few data are highly suggestive, how- 
ever, and should stimulate further study. The following table 
exhibits graphically the results of the few analyses made by 
Prof. Geo. W. Cavanaugh relative to the phosphoric acid (P20s) 
in the urine. 
Laboratory Phosphoric Acid 
Number of Condition of Animal per Liter of 
Analysis Urine 
2,672 Slight double navicular disease traces 
2,673 Non-diagnosable shifting lameness (Rheumatism ?) -| no trace 
2,674 Healthy farm horse......ecesseeeeeeeececeesescce ++| no trace 
2,675 Healthy farm horse .+.+eseeesse sence sence eeeceee «| no trace 
2,676 Weanling colt with four active ringboneS.-....-+eeeeeeeeeseeeceeers 4-55 grammes 
2,677 Same patient after an interval of eleven days..-...++e+sseereereeeeee 3.70 grammes 
2,678 Second sample from 2,673 (was being fed phosphates in large’ quan- 
tities)sc cs cercceenncecne wens ce cccntecsasenessansanstesnaesnaeenes -09 grammes 
2,679 Second sample from 2,674 (was being fed phosphates in large quan- 
HHHIES) 0 nce niecncenein oecleveinee sian esceic ieeneuteeersesnece seenewe trace 
These fragmentary records serve to indicate that during the 
active stages of ringbone. and navicular disease an excess of 
phosphorus, presumably in the form of calcium phosphate, is 
present in the urine. It occurs only in traces in 2,672, the mare 
at that time having been under the best possible hygienic condi- 
tions as understood by us, and the presence of the malady barely 
recognizable in a short gait without limping. 
In 2,676 and 2,677 the amounts of phosphates become very 
marked and stand out as distinctly pathological when compared 
with the other analyses. The case, a weanling filly, was suffering 
acutely with four active ringbones from which she recovered her 
general condition and now, after eight years observation, is 
working sound, the large ringbones being quiescent. 
In sharp contrast to these are samples 2,673, 2,674, and 2,675, 
the first of which had a peculiar, intermittent lameness for a 
year or more, shifting from region to region without apparent 
* cause, or without inducing any recognizable lesions in any part 
and ended by apparent recovery which has remained constant 
for eight years. Nos. 2,674 and 2,675 were healthy farm animals 
employed at regular farm work. 
An interesting query is here raised upon which chemists seem 
to be at variance, some claiming that phosphates are not normally 
