DISEASE OF THE SESAMOID BONES OF THE HORSE. 73 
The small portion of the face which was sent, and the 
rude way it had been detached by the knacker, prevented the 
dissection being so fully carried out as could have been 
wished ; enough, however, was seen to warrant the opinion 
that the case was one of true cancer.] 
ON DISEASE OF THE SESAMOID BONES OF 
THE HORSE. 
By John Roalfe Cox, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
The attention of the profession having been directed 
by Mr. James Turner to the lameness of horses arising from 
disease of the sesamoid bones, I have thought that a well- 
marked case of the kind would be acceptable to the readers 
of the Veterinarian : and, being acquainted with its history, 
I have had equal pleasure in presenting the morbid specimen 
to the Museum of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 
in Red Lion Square. 
In June of last year, eighteen months, as will be seen, 
prior to his death, the horse was submitted to me for an 
opinion of his lameness, and of the treatment best to be 
adopted. He was an aged hunter, and had been in the posses- 
sion of the same gentleman for, 1 believe, several years. He 
was also used in town during the summer months as a hack. 
On reference to my journal, I find, the following report, 
which I give verbatim : a June 28th, 1854. Chesnut horse 
lame in both fore legs , particularly the off, from jarred and 
swollen condition of the fetlock joints. Advised cold appli- 
cations preparatory to more active measures.” 
At this time I did not consider that either acute inflamma- 
tion of the joint or recent lesion existed, but that the en- 
largement 1 noticed depended on a more gradual alteration 
of the structures as an effect of wear and tear. Agreeably to 
my instructions, the horse had wet bandages applied to his 
legs while in the stable, and as he got somewhat better of his 
lameness he was taken into the country, with the remainder 
of the stud, without any other treatment being adopted. In 
consequence of this, I lost sight of him until last spring, 
between eight and nine months prior to his death, when he 
was again sent to me for advice on his lameness. A copy of 
the entry of the examination I will also give, inasmuch as I 
did not at the time remember the circumstance of the horse 
having been sent to me before ; but a few days subsequently, 
xxix. 10 
