162 MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
calculous concretions frequently remain and accumulate till their 
size prevents their expulsion. In this case the previous illness 
was probably owing to the presence of the button in the in- 
testines ; and after it became covered with this earthy deposit, 
the animal began to recover : little inconvenience was felt as 
long as the stone remained small, but when it had attained a 
large size it proved fatal. 
In the museum of the Veterinary College there are, I believe, 
many of these calculi, some of them of considerable mag- 
nitude. It is by no means unfrequent to find them in heavy 
draught horses, and particularly those of millers that are fed on 
bran. They have the appearance of crystallized gneis, or of grit 
stone ; and it is probable that they partly consisted of these very 
minerals, for it is of such that mill stones are very generally com- 
posed ; and, by the friction they are perpetually undergoing, there 
can be little doubt that much of the mill-dust intermixed with 
bran, with which millers’ horses are fed so largely, is derived 
from the powder furnished by these stones. 
According to Mason Good, these concretions, when chemically 
analyzed, are found to consist chiefly of a triple or ammoniaco- 
magnesian phosphate, although it is difficult to conceive from 
what quarter this magnesia is. obtained. The earthy or white 
sand calculi of the human bladder have a similar composition. 
In the human bladder this is easily accounted for; and likewise in 
the case of millers’ horses, some portion of the earth being pro- 
bably derived from the bran, in which it is always to be traced ; 
but a difficulty still remains with other animals. 
MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF 
THE LONDON VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
Session 1835-6. 
The Society held its first meeting for the session on Tuesday, 
the 16th of November, 1835. 
The evening was occupied, as has been customary, by the 
election of officers for the association, the reading of its regula- 
tions, &c. 
Mr. Sewell was unanimously re-chosen President. 
Mr. Spooner, Vice-President and Treasurer. 
Mr. Morton, Secretary and Librarian. 
A committee of management for the ensuing three months, 
consisting of six members, was also nominated, and 
Many new members were proposed. 
