578 PROGRESS OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ART. 
tries, all animals were or are considered lame in the shoulder, 
and mercilessly blistered, setoned, and fired; aggravating, 
and not alleviating, animal suffering ? 
It is interesting, though not strange, when it is considered 
that the basis of either is fact, to read Mr. Turner’s and M. 
Mascher’s descriptions of the symptoms of disease of the 
sesamoidal bones ; how closely they agree, and yet how dif- 
ferently they express themselves. I cannot forbear quoting 
one of Mr. Turner’s well written paragraphs from the Vete- 
rinarian for 1847, at page 633, where, speaking of lesions of 
the tendons and ligaments, as affecting race-horses, to 
familiarise his instruction, he tells us how an intelligent 
trainer would readily discover them, and then referring to 
sesamoiditis, says “but this same practical trainer gives us 
a call, fidgetty and puzzled, and says he has a two-year old 
in full training, of immense promise and engagement, but is 
as loath to admit the existence of lameness as though the 
confession would be the forfeiture of his own life. At length 
it comes out that he thinks his stride is shortened in his 
gallop — that he is somewhat careful in his slow exercise, 
particularly in declivities — that he drops occasionally in his 
walk which he never used to do, and when in the stable does 
not stand firmly on his fore legs as at first ; then describes 
his sinews and ligaments as perfectly clean and fine ; and 
winds up by declaring that there is nothing whatever to be 
seen to account for the strange falling off ; but admits that, 
upon running the colt out in hand, he trots somewhat stilty 
in his action.” 
On the next page Mr. Turner says, that a veterinary sur- 
geon “ finding all right there, (in the foot, after close exa- 
mination,) returns to a most scrutinizing examination of 
the faint abnormal indication (slight swelling,) before men- 
tioned upon the ankle joint, and finds a throbbing action of 
the metacarpal artery, an unusual dilatation of the veins in 
the vicinity, but the angular point will be discernible both by 
the eye and touch ; he is then duly fortified, and boldly pro- 
nounces the case to be a shock imparted to the delicate 
synovial membranes lining the sesamoidal joints, through 
undue exertion upon structures necessarily weak, because in 
the progress of development by growth.” 
In his last paper on the subject, Mr. Turner says that 
sesamoiditis is a disease of wear and tear, affecting old and 
young, and all kinds of fast or hard working horses. 
I here leave the matter to those who may be willing to 
contribute facts, either to invalidate or strengthen the teach- 
ings of Messrs. Turner and Mascher. 
16 , Upper Woburn Place ; September, 1855 . 
