528 
ON IIOCK LAMENESS. 
the edges were irregular — the cartilage was abraded, and the 
fibrous structure of the bone appeared beneath. I enter not 
into the discussion — it would be improper for me at •present to 
do so. I am merely, for the information of the reader, stating 
the facts of the case. — Y.] 
I was pleased to find, on looking through the table of con- 
tents of the August number of The Veterinarian, that the 
subject of hock-lameness had at length acquired some notice, 
and the notice, more particularly, of so able a writer as Professor 
Dick ; and although on perusing the paper of that gentleman 
my pleasure was somewhat damped by the general tone of his 
remarks, and the unqualified contradictions they contained, yet, 
on the whole, I felt satisfaction, as I was convinced that benefit 
must be derived from the discussion of so important a subject. 
I must first, however, endeavour to clear myself from the charge 
of egotism that appears to be insinuated at the commencement 
of Mr. Dick’s paper. He says, that I have accused veterinary 
surgeons generally, because they have not before noticed my 
papers on the subject. Now 7 , if any one will refer to my paper in 
The Veterinarian of last July, he will find that I merely ex- 
press my surprise that the subject of obscure hock -lameness had 
not been noticed by others. The difference between the two 
statements may be trivial as to the matter of the complaint, but 
very important as to the manner in which it is made. From Mr. 
Dick’s version one would suppose that I felt myself neglected, 
whilst all that my words will imply is, that I thought the 
subject was unduly disregarded. And, certainly, if this was my 
impression when 1 sent my last paper, it is still further strength- 
ened by Mr. Dick’s observations, wherein he positively asserts 
that what I have described as a diseased alteration is simply the 
natural and necessary construction of the joint. I, say my im- 
pression was still further increased ; because, if such were his 
opinions, it is strange indeed that he should have allowed my 
statements to have remained unopposed for upwards of six years; 
for I find that my first paper on the subject is contained in The 
Veterinarian of December 1830, when Mr. Dick’s name 
certainly did not appear as the nominal editor of the Journal. To 
this date I must now go back, in order to call to mind the manner 
in which my attention was first directed to the subject. 
I had a case of lameness of one of the hind legs, attended with 
a slight degree of heat, and tegumental swelling about the hock. 
The horse was bled from the thigh, and, after the heat was removed 
by cooling treatment, the hock was blistered, and the lameness 
removed. He was put to work, and again became lame, for 
which he was once more subjected to treatment, and a seton was 
