2S(i MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
long standing, the feet have increased vascular action set up in 
them, and not unfrequently it constitutes true metastasis. 
A member doubted the existence of true metastasis in the 
horse. He would rather say that the laminae, from being kept so 
long on the stretch, became themselves the subjects of disease, 
than that it was a transference of it from the lungs to the feet. 
Many interesting cases of laminitis following influenza were 
related by members, and also the eating immoderately of wheat. 
This last-named circumstance led to the inquiry of its manner 
of operating, since many had seen horses partake freely of this 
grain without any unpleasant consequences supervening; and 
some persons, it is well known, wholly feed their horses on it. 
This was readily believed ; but it was contended, that little force 
existed in the objection, as the stomach of these animals had 
become inured to the influence of the grain, it being thought 
to possess highly stimulating properties. 
There were those, however, who preferred considering inflam- 
mation of the laminae as resulting from the uneasiness produced 
by the quantity taken, and from the change the wheat under- 
goes in the alimentary canal, which induces the animal violently 
to paw the ground. Others looked upon it as the result of a 
change of inflammation from the stomach and bowels to the 
feet, since such cases as had terminated fatally without lami- 
nitis supervening presented the intestines in a highly diseased 
state. Instances, it was remarked, are recorded of inflammation 
of the laminae following enteritis ; and Mr. Fagan remembered a 
case of hypercatharsis leading to the same result. 
In the treatment of this disease, he strongly objected to the 
withdrawal of blood from the sole, and as strongly recommended 
warm applications in preference to cold. 
The horny covering of the foot he described as being made up 
of a great many tubes, containing a fluid for the purpose of keep- 
ing the whole elastic, and these all taking an oblique direction. 
This structure, he remarked, exists even in the horny sole; so 
that it is not secreted in plates, as usually taught. He was 
borne out by another member, who stated he had carefully ex- 
amined portions of the horny parts by a powerful microscope, 
and he was convinced that the whole consisted of a congeries of 
tubes ; they were not interstitial spaces left by the arrangement 
of fibres of horny matter. 
Mr. Fagan received the Society’s certificate. 
March 22 d. 
The consideration of Mr. Hill’s essay was resumed. 
Tubercles in the lungs he considered to be more commonly 
