140 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY. 
has been, as it were, ground into these pores, and here the surface 
presents the polish, smoothness, and hardness of ivory.” 
It will be seen, however, from these cases, that the changes in- 
duced by the existence of an active morbid cause are by no means 
similar to those seen in the case of malformation ; for, in the for- 
mer there was abundant evidence, even without the direct evi- 
dence of the patients, that the natural structures had once 
existed, and that the joint had performed its healthy functions ; 
whilst in the latter there was not any vestige of either of these 
having ever existed. From every consideration, therefore, I view 
this case as one of congenital malformation, and not as having 
been produced by disease ; and I am still more strengthened in 
this, that in the shoulder-joint of the same side there was also an 
abnormal state of its development, as if both these joints had been 
formed under some hemiplegic state of the nervous system of or- 
ganic life. This condition of the shoulder-joint I shall refer to at 
some future period. 
In conclusion, it may be asked, What practical utility may be 
expected to arise to the veterinary practitioner from a knowledge 
of the various circumstances that have been above related, or will 
they in any way tend to further the practice of his profession 1 
True, indeed, such cases will not often be presented to him in his 
general practice, in consequence of such malformed animals being 
generally destroyed immediately after birth; and even if they 
were seen, what could be done for them 1 It must be admitted 
that, considering the severe physical labour to which they are 
daily subjected, little might be done for them in the way of re- 
lief; but then their very, though occasional existence (setting 
even aside their importance in furthering the advancement of 
human pathology, and as tending to combine with it comparative 
pathology, so as to form one general and inseparable science), 
shews that the lower animals, as well as man, are subject to the 
influence of the same agencies during the development of the 
different parts of their structure as he is, and therefore, that a de- 
ficiency in development or a malformation in structure are not to 
be viewed in them as being entirely the results of civilization ; 
and however it may be said, that “ among the lower animals, 
sickness and decay are not permitted to exist; that activity and 
health alone are conspicuous throughout the broad creation ; that 
disease and decline are banished from their world ; that nothing is 
permitted to live but what possesses its faculties and its strength 
unimpaired and unenfeebled ; and that, if any creature lacked, 
but for a brief period, its accustomed powers of escape, the de- 
stroyer would be instantly at hand, to remove it from its accustomed 
