PROFESSOR SEWELL’S INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. 71 
of neurotomy we might, perhaps, be permitted to refer to as a 
proof; and there are many other lamenesses than that arising from 
what is called the “ navicular disease,” for which it has been 
advantageously had recourse to. Glanders, a disease at one time 
so prevalent and so fatal, is now far less frequently met with, and, 
certainly, is not incurable in its earlier stages, especially that form 
designated chronic glanders. The plan successfully adopted here, 
of late, has been to trephine the frontal and maxillary sinuses, and 
to pass a seton through from one to the other, so as to evacuate 
the cavities ; conjoining the use of stimulating injections with the 
internal administration of the sulphate of copper, which acts as an 
astringent tonic. And even in the acute form, when ulceration 
of the septum nasi has taken place, this agent, when given in large 
and repeated doses, has occasionally proved the means of bringing 
about a cure ; but, when the turbinated bones become involved, and 
the lungs are extensively diseased, this result is always doubtful. 
Of many maladies, different, and we hope piore correct, views of 
their nature are now taken. Thus, at one time, “ roaring” was 
made to depend alone upon a band of effused lymph which stretched 
across the trachea. But this, certainly, is not the only cause. A 
distorted state of the rings of the trachea frequently gives rise to 
it ; this being induced by horses being tightly reined in. Or 
tumours pressing on this tube may cause it ; and also a paralyzed 
state of the laryngeal muscles. 
“ Stringhalt” has been found to be the result of a diseased state 
of the muscles of the thigh and the nerves thereof; — “ shivering,” an 
affection of the stifle-joint, associated with a luxation of the patella; 
— “ kumree,” a peculiar disease of the loins, attacking horses in 
India, is now known to be paralysis, arising from an effusion of 
blood on the spinal cord ; illustrative of which are those beautiful 
drawings by Mr. Ashton, Y.S. of the Hon. East India Company’s 
service ; — “ rabies,” a fatal disease in all animals, is essentially an 
affection of the meninges of the brain and its continuation, the 
spinal marrow, arising from the blood being empoisoned, and by 
the withdrawal or entire alteration of this fluid is the only hope we 
have of effecting a cure. 
With respect to operations, these are now performed in accord- 
ance with true principles of surgery ; and sometimes we have 
recourse to such as the practitioner of human medicine hesitates to 
perform, being fearful of the consequences ; for instance, oesopha- 
gotomy and tracheotomy. The extraction of calculous concretions 
from the bladder has become a common operation, and subcutane- 
ous periosteotomy is constantly performed to relieve the lameness 
attendant on splents and spavins ; care being taken, in the last- 
named affection, that the capsule of the joint be not wounded, while 
