WEST OF SCOTLAND VETERINARY ASSOCIATION. 595 
have seen paralysis of both optic nerves in a case of 
stomach staggers ; yet, while I admit this, it will not make 
your view the more correct, for paralysis of both optic nerves 
in stomach staggers is never seen except in cases of an 
acute type, lasting under ten days; at least, such has been 
my experience. 
i( And now dismissing all thoughts of the disease being 
one of stomach staggers, and calling physiology to our aid, 
it will be no hard matter for me to explain away every 
symptom presented in this apparently mysterious case. At 
this point of the inquiry, the only difficulty is to determine 
whether it is a hydatid or a tumour; and although this may 
appear a difficult question, yet I assure you it is not after all 
so difficult as may be thought ; and I am certain, had time 
permitted me, I should have had just as great confidence in 
undertaking to inform you how to distinguish between them, 
as I have faith in explaining the symptoms here presented 
to depend upon a tumour, and giving the situation of the 
same. And now, returning to the history of the case, it will 
be remembered, 
<f 1st. The disease at first was benignant in character, 
although it gradually assumed a malignant type. Tumours, 
like every other adventitious products, are of more or less slow 
growth, depending entirely upon the situation they occupy 
and the advantages at hand for their production. As they are 
themselves of slow growth, so, and in like ratio, is the alter- 
ation of structure in the part upon or within which they 
are produced, and hence the symptoms of disease presented 
will also be of slow progress, and always keeping pace with 
the growth of tumours in the same way as the cause must 
always precede the effect. Here then is an explanation of 
the gradual approximation of the disease towards a climax. 
“ 2dly. The animal was emaciated in condition, and of an 
excitable temperament. Admitting that the quickest way to 
produce emaciation is to starve an animal, still it is quite 
compatible with what I have said, that the organs of diges- 
tion, circulation, secretion, and excretion be perfectly healthy, 
and yet emaciation to an almost unlimited extent exist ; for 
you will remember I stated that the nervous system was the 
great contributing agent, by its regulating the whole of the 
functions essential to the maintenance of vitality, and hence 
it is not necessary that organic or functional derangement of 
the stomach should have been the cause of emaciation in this 
case. 
“3dly. When made to walk she staggered. Referring to the 
fourth head of my physiological summary, it will be found that 
