676 
REVIEWS. 
as the poor patient is described, we feel arrayed in all our power. 
Fever in the foot, as a metastasis from pneumonia ! Tell it 
not in Gath that even it has been written, for we unhesitatingly 
assert that such a phenomenon was never known to occur in the 
annals of disease. You may have fever in the feet, as a metas- 
tasis from enteritis, just as you may have inflammation of the 
theca of the tendons — so admirably described — as a metastasis 
from pneumonia ; but the laws of nature are immutable ; you 
will not one day have metastasis from the lungs to the theca, 
and another day to the feet, any more than you will have 
metastasis from the bowels in one instance to the feet, and in 
another to the theca ; no, transmutation of disease does indeed 
occasionally take place, but it is always in accordance with 
some law, known or unknown. Who would ever talk of the 
gout flying to a man’s heart, or the rheumatism to his stomach ? 
We know too well that these every-day diseases may indeed 
assume a fatal form, but we know equally well the tissues 
through which it will be developed. 
In support of this view of the question we must state our 
perfect conviction, that in all those cases where laminitis has 
been supposed to be subsequent to pneumonia, that pneumonia 
has never existed ; but that the quickened pulse and the acce- 
lerated breathing have merely been the symptoms of the early 
stage of the disease, which has not been correctly recognised 
till the more formidable symptoms have been fully developed. 
We are sure our Editor will not take umbrage at this differ- 
ence of opinion on a most important point, more especially 
as, from the very slight notice he has taken of it (metastatis 
to the feet), he does not appear to have given it that mature 
deliberation it so well deserves. We take our leave of him 
with all respect; and can only say in conclusion, that a more 
pleasant volume on a medical subject we have not for a long 
time had the good fortune to peruse. G. 
