42 PROGRESS OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ART. 
the cow daily for some time without recognising any im- 
provement. 
About ten or twelve days after the first appearance of the 
lameness, Hollmann observed, on causing the animal to 
advance, that when the limb was carried forwards the hock 
was perfectly flexed, and at that moment a wrinkle was 
observed in the tendo-Achillis between one and two inches 
above the os calcis. When the animal lifted up its leg the 
parts below the hock hung loosely backwards, and might be 
freely moved backwards and forwards. The tendon of the 
extensor metatarsi was then bent into folds, but if the animal 
supported itself on the lame leg the angle at the hock joint 
was normal and the tendo-Achillis was on the stretch. 
The lameness did not improve, and as on the 16 th of Sep- 
tember the animal was also lame with the other hind leg, 
the proprietor decided on trying to fatten her for the 
butcher. The lameness of the off hind limb was cured in 
about eight days, and during this period the animal had prin- 
cipally rested on the near foot without getting worse on it. 
Hollmann often saw the cow till the 30th of November, 
without perceiving any change in the lameness. Up to the 
30th of October she did not thrive, but since then her 
coat looked smooth, and she laid on flesh. On being taken 
to the slaughter-house it was observed that she was as lame 
as ever. 
On post-mortem examination, the tibialis anticus, peronaeus, 
and gastrocnemius were found healthy. On elevating the 
patella, the rectus femoris, towards its outer side, was found 
containing a morbid product of firm consistence, appearing 
to be something betwixt tendon and cartilage. On cutting 
through the muscle it was found of a greyish yellow, or some- 
times paler colour, like cooked meat, with a few normally 
tinged bundles of fibres passing through. The diseased 
portion, which was situated between one and two inches 
above the patella, was firmer than natural, beyond which the 
muscle was of normal texture and fibre. The articulation of 
the patella was healthy. In the femoro-tibial articulation, 
having cut through the inner semi-lunar cartilage, the arti- 
cular cartilage was found destroyed over a surface the size of 
about a fourpenny piece, without other signs of disease. 
Hollmann laments not having had an opportunity to exa- 
mine the muscle by the microscope, but says there is no 
doubt that there had been rupture and cicatrization of the 
rectus femoris. — Mag. fur die ges. Thierheil ., April, 1855. 
In spite of all difficulties, we are advancing slowly, but in a 
sure way, to determine the exact nature of lamenesses in ani- 
