A CASE OF ACUTE FOUNDER IN A HORSE. 
73 
the breathing became considerably slower ; the pulse was softer ; 
and I must confess that I had some hope: but about 6 o’clock, p.m. 
the ears and lips began to get cold, and he died about 10 o’clock. 
I considered this case from the first as one of acute founder, 
attended by excessive febrile action, and was perfectly aware 
that there was a general or diffused inflammation over the 
whole system. I was, too, right in the supposition which I had 
formed. I send you a portion of the liver, the apex of the heart, 
a kidney, and a small shred of the latissimus dorsi muscle to 
shew the extent of the inflammatory action ; also a piece of lung, 
which you will find so completely softened as to assume the 
appearance of being rotten. The bowels were inflamed along 
the whole mucous surface ; small patches also were on the mus- 
cular coat, a specimen of which I likewise send. 
May I request that at your early convenience you will send 
me your opinion of the case? for a friend rather anticipated me 
yesterday morning in the post-mortem examination, and, when 
he found the lungs inflamed, troubled himself no more about the 
matter. Although he was privately in attendance during the 
whole time the horse was ill, and expressed himself perfectly satis- 
fied that he was foundered, yet, when he saw the inflamed lungs, 
he immediately retracted his former opinion, and asserted that it 
was pneumonia, and made no scruple to say that I had totally 
mistaken the disease, and that through my bad treatment the 
horse had died. 
Opinion by Professor Dick. 
Sir, — I have considered the preceding statement, and exa- 
mined the portions of the animal which you sent me, and have 
no doubt of the case being one of acute founder. I may 
safely affirm, that, in every Case of founder where the horse dies, 
there is found a degree of inflammation of the lungs. They 
always suffer both in founder, and in every case of fever arising 
from irritation or severe injury in other parts of the body, and 
where the pulse and respiration are increased to any great degree, 
and continued so for even a short time, 
I am, dear Sir, your’s truly, 
William Dick. 
[We introduce the following observations by Mr. Ilorsburgh, 
for an agriculturist beyond the Tweed may well be proud of 
the honours reaped by the northern cattle. The document 
which he annexes is a valuable one, and honourable to his 
