252 GROWTHS FROM MUCOUS MEMBRANE, ETC., OF A COW. 
mountainous country, likewise responds to its new require- 
ments, but perhaps more slowly than the other type. It 
becomes concentrated on itself, loses a large portion of its 
humidity, and gains greatly in firmness and solidity. And 
not only is the hoof adapted by nature to different climates 
and soils, but it submits to variations according to the season ; 
the dryness or dampness of the air are always in operation in 
modifying its form and consistency. In winter it softens and 
dilates, is little worn, and grows slower ; in summer it con- 
tracts, hardens, is much worn, and grows in proportion. So 
that, in the words of M. Goyau, to hard ground there is 
opposed hard horn, to soft ground soft horn. 
PAPILLARY GROWTHS FROM THE MUCOUS 
MEMBRANE OF THE (ESOPHAGUS OF A 
COW. 
By H. Lepper, M.R.C.Y.S., Aylesbury. 
I herewith forward for your inspection what I conceive 
to be a most unusual specimen of disease of the mucous 
membrane of the oesophagus of a cow. I had no opportunity 
of seeing the animal after death, and consequently I am 
unable to say whether any other portions of the digestive 
organs were similarly affected. The subject was a cow of 
the short-horn breed, about five years old. She had had two 
calves and was far advanced in pregnancy with the third. 
In the summer of last year I attended her for an attack 
of pneumonia, from which she recovered ; and with the 
exception of a slight cough, which in no way appeared to 
interfere with her general health, she retained her former 
condition, and gave an ordinary quantity of milk. 
In the early part of January last she was noticed to be 
losing flesh, her coat was unhealthy in appearance, and there 
was a falling off of milk. On the 22nd of this month my 
attention was called to her in consequence of pellets of half- 
masticated food being dropped from her mouth, instead of 
being swallowed. Some of these had been but imperfectly 
broken down ; indeed, fit only to be passed again into the 
rumen, but other portions were sufficiently masticated to be 
suited for the action of the omasum. 
The diagnosis being that some derangement of the oesopha- 
gus and stomachs existed, especially the former, for which 
