CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
379 
actions than one, yet none are capable of assuming in entirety the 
functions of others, we may easily account for an impure or specific 
state of the blood — its purification has not been going on, and it is 
therefore incapable of absolute nutrition. In addition, also, we 
know that blood possessing carbonic acid, &c., in excess, acts at 
once as a sedative to the nervous centres, and destroys the irritability 
of muscular fibre ; hence the great lassitude, and subsequent abso- 
lute want of power, which is matured in proportion to the arrest 
of function, together with the very low temperature which always 
marks such conditions. 
Mr. Mavor contended the causes might be due to electrical action 
inducing a derangement of nerve force. There is no reason why 
the nervous system should not be first affected, as well as the 
blood. 
Mr. T. Gowing , sen., thought if the cause were first centred in 
the nervous system, other conditions of a nervous character would 
be evident. We must bear in mind that many cases of influenza 
appear, in which the prostration is not so absolute, but in all which 
it has occurred as yet, he could feel no difficulty in referring it to 
the state of the blood. 
The President said, in endeavouring to harmonise the views of 
Messrs. Mavor and Gowing, it might be argued that both were to 
an extent right. Accepting the statement of the Secretary, with re- 
ference to the effects of the cold upon the skin and mucous mem- 
branes, it would follow that the peripheral nerves would be the first 
to receive the influence, and they in turn would convey it to the 
great nerve centres, by which derangement follows. Again, acknow- 
ledging that the skin is a great emunctory for many deleterious sub- 
stances, the effects of cold upon the peripheral nerves would be 
apparent also in the subsequent arrest of cutaneous transudation, 
and likewise interference with the blood-vessels of the skin. The 
retention of materials in the blood, the elimination of which had 
been stated as absolutely essential, would inevitably constitute a 
blood poison, and that fluid would fail to nourish the nervous 
system as it should, which must end in the production of much 
depression. 
Mr. W. Hunting laid before the meeting the pedal bone of a 
horse, exhibiting a large depression in front, which he described as 
resulting from absorption, caused by a corresponding elevation, or 
horny tumour within the hoof. The specimen was closely examined, 
and considerable discussion followed. 
Mr. J. Woodger , sen., directed attention to a calculus of the triple 
phosphate kind, which had been passed, in addition to a great 
many more, by a horse under his care. 
The question arose, why the horses of millers more commonly 
provide calculi of this kind than other horses, and it was discussed 
with animation, by nearly all present, the general opinion being, 
that powerful causes exist for derangement of assimilation, while the 
materials of which the stores are formed,’ are provided in the 
food. 
