MISCELLANEA. 
787 
LETTER FROM “ QUiESITOR.” 
[We have received the following from “ Qusesitor.”] 
In the course of your extended practice have you met with many 
cases of what are commonly called “ Kidney droppers” ? I have 
looked through the Veterinarian from 1828 to 1856 (the only 
numbers that I can just now refer to) without meeting with a single 
description of such a one. From this I infer that the malady is not 
common. Perhaps you, or some of the readers of your Journal, 
may be able to furnish some information concerning the disease 
which receives this very curious and vulgar name. 
DISHORNING CATTLE. 
We have been asked by Professor Williams to call attention to a 
question put by Mr. Ernes, in a foot-note to his “ Translations,” at 
page 703 in our last number, relative to the evidence given by Mr. 
James McKenna, in a prosecution for dishorning of cattle, to the 
effect that if the horns be cut off “ close to the skull a portion of 
the brain might protrude without resulting in death.” 
Mr. Ernes asks, “ Is this the teaching of any of the schools ? ” 
To which Professor Williams replies, “ Certainly not in Edin- 
burgh,” and to this we may add that we hope nowhere else. 
MISCELLANEA. 
CATTLE DISEASE IN CANADA. 
Da. Andrew Smith, veterinary surgeon, who, instructed by 
the Government, has visited various places in the west of 
Canada, where the cattle have suffered most severely, reports 
that the cause has been the attack of flies, and that cold autumn 
weather will bring relief. The fatal cases have usually occurred 
where there has been neglect to apply proper dressings. The 
expedition to Fort Garry, shortly before arriving at its destina- 
tion, encountered an extraordinary cloud of white flies. For about 
four or five feet above the river, the air was so thick with them as to 
give the boats the appearance of being in a heavy snowstorm. This 
lasted for some hours, and the surface of the water was thickly 
strewed with them as they cast their skins and died. — Times . 
