II 
III.— Case of Spinal Affection and Disease of the 
Stifle Joints in a young Sow. 
May 19/4, 1847. I this day saw a six months’ old sow, belonging 
to Viscount Combermere, that had been presented to him by Prince 
Albert some months before. 
Symptoms . — It is excessively fat, and does not fail eating its 
meat. On walking along she goes very stiff and slow. In respect 
to her fore legs she seems as if the flexor tendons and suspensory 
ligaments had given way, since the back of the fetlock joints come 
at every step almost to the ground, similar to what they do in a 
horse that is broken down ; and the claws in the front stand wide 
apart, and project outwards. There is no other peculiarity in the 
fore parts. 
Hind PARTS. — Now, here, the contrary position exists ; for she 
is actually standing on her tip-toes, and there is a general contrac- 
tion and stiffness in the flexor tendons. There is no weakness or 
tottering from side to side, but a stiffness in the hind parts, and a 
peculiarity of standing on the tip-toes. 
Treatment — Thinking there might be some rheumatic affection 
of the muscles and joints of the hind parts, I ordered her to be put 
in a hot bath for half an hour at a time, for five or six days toge- 
ther, and gave hyd. chlor. gr. jss, ant. pot. tart. gr. jss, sem. col- 
chici gr. ij, night and morning, in a pill in her meat. Reduce her 
food to two meals a-day. 
25/4. — But little improvement. Blister the spine. To have a 
little exercise at grass. 
June 5th . — She is not near so fat, but will eat any thing that is 
given to her; and we think she walks more lively and better. 
Blister the part with ung. hyd. bin. cum ant. pot. tart. 
7/4. — But little alteration, though T think she is quite as well as 
she was. Continue medicine, and rub some liquid blister on the 
spine. 
21 st . — No better. Her hind quarters, I think, waste. Looks 
lively, and feeds well. She always humps her back ; and her legs 
go straight forward, one after the other. I ordered her to be fed 
sparingly. 
Sept. 23 d . — From the last date she has not at all improved, and 
has continued to walk on the tips of her hind toes, in the manner 
she has done all along. Has fed well, but has been rather stinted 
of meat. Seeing no amendment, or any likelihood of such taking 
place, his Lordship ordered her to be killed, being good pork. 
Examination . — She was about five score pounds weight. On 
