EDITORIAL REMARKS. 
107 
the case, as Mr. Smith seems to do. in the light of any answer to 
Dr. Brauell’s question— ■“ Does not PODOTROCHOLITIS occasionally 
arise from internal causes V’ — the lameness in Mr. Smiths case, 
we should say, having nothing whatever to do with the navicular 
joint. 
— — x 
Mr. Gabriel’s case has turned out satisfactorily ; if not to 
the owner of the horse, at least to the medical attendants and 
advisers upon it. Dissection proved that it was one of t(iose 
“ unfortunate” cases that stand without the pale of poor human 
aid ; and, moreover, afforded substantial reasons why, during life, 
its nature had been involved in so much mystery. And yet there 
was a shrewd “ guess” or two made — and times, too, when those 
who were hunting about for the hidden fact were burning hot 
upon it. Interesting as the case is in a medical point of view, 
the pleasure of its perusal is not a little enhanced by the quaint 
and graphic language in which it is clothed. 
Mr. Mayhew’s account of his experiments on dogs and cats with 
the vapours of sether will be read with eager interest ; everybody — 
every veterinary surgeon at least — being desirous of knowing to 
what extent the American discovery is likely to prove useful or 
available in veterinary practice. For our own part, after perusing 
Mr. Mayhew’s interesting cases, we must confess we augur more 
favourably of the inferences deducible from them than he would 
seem to do. To us it appears questionable whether the cries 
emitted by the animals during the experiments are to be regarded 
as “ evidence of pain.” Looking to the like experiments which 
have of late been made on men, we find that a good deal has been 
said and signified by signs by some of the patients under inhala- 
tion, which has been mistaken for consciousness, when, in fact, as 
has been shewn afterwards, by the operations being proceeded 
with, the subjects of them were all the while insensible to pain. 
Future experiments will clear up this point, and, no doubt, elicit 
much of which we are yet ignorant. And it will give us pleasure 
to hear from any gentlemen who may have opportunity and incli- 
nation to enlighten the veterinary community on so interesting a 
topic. 
