RHEUMATIC LAMENESS. 
547 
wise, became bent, and the croup of course drooped. Rest, physic, 
fomentations, bleedings from the feet, blisters, were all tried, with 
but slight benefit. The joints were now evidently organically dis- 
eased, and nothing short of the most violent counter-irritants pro- 
mised mitigation. In this state the animal was disposed of to a party 
in the neighbourhood, and he again became a patient of mine. After 
giving the same opinion to the new as I had done to the former 
owner, viz. that I must consider that there was little, if any, 
chance of useful recovery, it was decided that strong measures 
should be adopted. Accordingly, I passed three long setons around 
each hock joint, which produced an enormous discharge, and very 
considerable mitigation of the lameness : these were kept in as 
long as possible. When the hocks had sufficiently recovered, I 
proceeded to the use of the actual cautery with as great a degree 
of severity as I considered justifiable, and of the strongest blisters, 
and which were repeated several times. The hocks were, of 
course, very much blemished ; but from this time a very slow im- 
provement went on : at the end of about a year from this very 
violent treatment, and more than a year and a half from the com- 
mencement, the animal was so far improved as to be fit for some 
kinds of work. The external enlargement of the joints had sub- 
sided, but they never recovered their original uprightness. The 
horse continued under my observation for a few months after this 
period, but I did not observe any great change ; and I doubt if 
the disease of the hock joints would not return if put to fair work. 
I consider this to have been a disease dependent upon a rheu- 
matic diathesis, evolved by over-riding. I have met with a few 
instances of a similar nature, but not going to the same violent 
extent: perhaps, because the animals were not exposed to such a 
violent exciting cause.” 
A CASE OF INFLAMMATION AND LOSS OF SIGHT. 
By Mr. SHENTON, Pendleton , near Manchester . 
Gentlemen, — I TAKE the liberty of sending you the following 
remarks on a very unusual case of blindness : — 
On the 25th of July last, I was sent for by a farmer near this 
place to attend upon a calf which the man said had gone quite 
blind within the last few days. I found my patient — a high-bred 
heifer calf, about three months old, a great beauty and very highly 
prized — was out in the field, and, as I stood to watch its motions, 
