262 CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL PATHOLOGY. 
healthy and normal condition, in the highest degree interesting to 
the pathologist; but, as it has been observed, “ though the organ 
is comparatively • small in size, and composed of few and appa- 
rently simple structures — its functions so obvious that any imper- 
fection in their performance could be quickly perceived and 
readily understood — it would appear only reasonable to suppose 
that its various pathological conditions should have been observed, 
and the symptoms connected with them long since collected and 
arranged. Yet such is not the history of the pathology of the la- 
rynx ; on the contrary, it presents itself to us with all the interest 
of a new discovery ; and whatever is known on the subject is the 
result of investigations made within the last few years*.” 
As many of these abnormal conditions cannot be fully under- 
stood without a perfect acquaintance of the normal structures and 
mechanism, I have deemed it advisable to consider, in the first 
place, the healthy anatomy of the organ. It is, indeed, to be re- 
gretted that, in the works of the generality of comparative ana- 
tomists, the descriptive anatomy of the larynx of domestic animals 
has received so small a degree of attention ; for, with the exception 
of the excellent descriptions given by Mr. Youatt, in his lectures 
delivered at the University of London t, I have not found the de- 
scription of other anatomists and the dissection of the recent parts 
to correspond; and even the descriptions, as usually given by 
them, by no means afforded a true knowledge of the actual struc- 
tures of the organ. 
In the following description of these parts I have ventured to 
differ slightly from Mr. Youatt; but this I have only done after 
numerous and carefully repeated dissections, from which the de- 
scriptions have been entirely compiled. 
Special Anatomy of the Larynx. 
The larynx is situated at the anterior and inferior part of the 
neck, and between the angles of the rami of the lower jaw. It is 
composed of a bone, common to it and the tongue ; of four carti- 
lages and a fibro-cartilage, connected by ligaments and synovial 
membranes, and acted on by a complicated series of muscles. In- 
ternally it is lined with mucous membrane peculiarly arranged, 
and all are abundantly supplied with vessels and nerves. All of 
these structures will require a special description. 
* Porter, on Diseases of the Larynx ; also, Cycloped. of Anat. and Physiol. 
Art. Larynx, abnormal Anatomy of. 
f Veterinarian, vol. v, pages 425 and 447. 
