SPRAIN OR RUPTURE OF THE G A ST ROC N E M 1 1 MUSCLES. 573 
swallowing water shews itself until the throat becomes very much 
swollen, when both solids and liquids are refused. Then follows 
the patient’s distress and difficulty of breathing, increasing every 
hour until death closes the scene. 
Mr. Lowe, surgeon here, saw these cases several times, and he 
considered, from the peculiarity of the symptoms and the malignity 
of their nature, that it would be almost impossible to cure one, if 
taken even in its earliest stage. He compared the disease to malig- 
nant scarlet fever in the human subject. In conclusion, I think 
there can be no doubt but that there was something of a specific 
nature in this form of throat disease, and evidently very infectious. 
*** We should imagine that situation or locality must have a 
good deal to do with the production of this disease. At all events, 
it seems to be quite a rara avis in stables where horses are well 
kept and looked after in the ordinary way. — Ed. Yet. 
REMARKS ON SPRAIN OR RUPTURE OF THE 
GASTROCNEMII MUSCLES, AND A CASE OF 
PULMONARY AND CARDIAC DISEASE. 
By J. Tombs, M.R.C.V.S., late Bengal Horse Artillery. 
You mention in the June number of The VETERINARIAN, when 
speaking of lameness in horses, that a strain or rupture of the 
gastrocnemii muscles is very rare : I have recorded two cases [see 
vol. iii, New Series, page 267 ; again, see vol. vii, New Series, 
page 582].* I once met with a similar case in a heifer, caused by 
getting her leg entangled in a stile. I have recently had another 
case under treatment, which had a favourable termination : A roan 
cart mare, five years old, was upright in the stable-yard at night ; 
in the morning she was quite lame — cause unknown. I saw her 
a month after the accident : every one who saw her before fancied 
she was lame in the stifle joint, and she was doctored accordingly. 
I fixed upon the hock as being the seat of lameness, when I saw her 
move at a distance, as she could not flex it, and from her hopping 
when urged to go fast. She straddled with and projected the lame 
limb out when walking. I could not discover any swelling, only 
a little heat on the superior part of the inside of the hock, which 
* These cases had escaped notice. We feel obliged to Mr. Tombs for re- 
calling our attention to them. — Ed. Vet. 
VOL. XXIII. 4 H 
