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hydrocele in man with success ; and has likewise made use of the 
same in cases of hydrarthrosis, “ uncomplicated with organic altera- 
tions,” in synovial swellings of the tendinous sheath, in cysts, 
abscesses, &c. 
M. Bouley (the younger), however, has put the same in prac- 
tice in horses ; and has given to the Royal Academy of Medicine, 
in opposition to Professor Velpeau’s paper on the subject, the 
cases of several horses whose hocks and knees he has treated, on 
account of distended synovial bursae, in a similar manner, and whose 
lives have paid the forfeit of such treatment ; though his cases, it 
is true, form a very inconsiderable proportion to the number re- 
counted by M. Velpeau. 
The Alfort Veterinary College has very properly determined, as 
far as opportunity enabled them, to set the point at rest, and with 
that laudable view have instituted two experiments, and faithfully 
published the results. The cases are these : — 
Case I. 
A Hungarian cart-horse, eight years old, since February 1846, has 
had a soft puffy tumour growing upon the outer side of the hollow 
of the hock, attended by some slight lameness, a circumstance which 
had drawn attention to it. The tumour accordingly was fired. That 
proving ineffectual, a second firing was practised, and this time 
with pointed (instead of blade-shaped) irons. Still no good resulted. 
On the contrary, the tumour became larger ; and another similar 
one made its appearance upon the inner side of the hock, even 
larger than that outside ; the case was now thorough-pin. 
In this state, it being found that exercise occasioned lameness, 
the horse was taken to a veterinary surgeon, who recommended 
that the swellings be punctured. Copious discharges of synovia 
followed the puncturation ; but the wounds afterwards healed with 
great rapidity, leaving the hock less for a time only ; for, some 
weeks afterwards, both tumours again appeared as large as 
formerly. 
On the 2d of August, the horse was sent to the Veterinary Col- 
lege at Alfort. It was the near hind leg that shewed the tumours, 
and of that he was now larne, and particularly when made to trot. 
And besides, so great were the swellings now, that considerable de- 
formity of the limb had become the consequence. Compared with 
the sound hock, its volume appeared enormous — double its natural 
size : there was a difference between them, according to measure, 
of fourteen or fifteen inches. Both tumours together, as the horse 
was standing, presented an irregular bi-lobed protuberance, sepa- 
