695 
A CASE OF SPINA VENTOSA. 
By M. Lecoq, M.V. f Bayeux. 
In the month of May 1831, a mare was brought to me from 
the President of the Board of Trade at Bayeux. He told me 
that he had consulted two of my colleagues on the case, and that 
they had both informed him it was beyond the researches of art. 
I attentively examined her. A considerable tumour appeared 
on the middle of the interdentary region, towards the inferior and 
posterior border of the left branch of the maxillary bone. It pro- 
jected very slightly externally, but it filled by its internal pro- 
jection almost the whole of the intermaxillary space. A fistulous 
opening was evident, taking a straight direction, and giving vent 
to a purulent sanious matter of an infectious smell. 
Having opened the wound so as to admit of the introduction 
of my finger, I found that the surface of the bone was denuded 
from above below two inches in length, and one in breadth. 
It seemed to me to be a species of necrosis. In the centre was 
an opening, into which I introduced mv finger. I found a large 
cavity, some portions only of the walls of which I could touch, 
while portions of it were evidently carious. The greater part of 
it, however, was covered with a cellular membrane, in some places 
thickly set with fleshy growths, while there were depressions of 
different sizes, having some analogy to the anfractuosities of the 
cranium. 
Having examined the interior of the mouth towards the middle 
part of the bars corresponding with the tumour, I observed a fis- 
tula communicating with a portion of the diseased bone. 
I warned the proprietor of the seriousness of the case, and did 
not dissemble that I had little hope of success. Considering, 
however, that the mare was otherwise useless, I consented to 
operate. 
On July 19th, 1831, I had her cast, and her head held conve- 
niently by the aid of an assistant. I cut away the flesh, so as to 
bring the denuded portion of the bone better under inspection. 
I then cauterized the bone severely by means of a long piece of 
iron brought to a white heat. Having enlarged the opening 
which communicated with the interior of the osseous tumour, I 
ran the button firing-iron, brought also to a white heat, over 
every part I could get at, and until I judged that I had disorga- 
nized the internal surface of the shell. The mare was then freed 
and led to the stable, having green meat for food, with good 
