ON FRAGILITY OF THE BONES IN CATTLE. 179 
neral, when considerable organic lesions had taken place in the 
lungs, neither these remedies nor any others would succeed ; but 
vomicae, plural adhesion, and acute or chronic hydrothorax, closed 
the scene. 
Causes . — It may appear singular to some readers that I take 
this division of my subject last; but I must confess that I have no 
certain proof with regard to the cause. It arose not from any pe- 
culiarity of temperament, of situation, or of food. This was put 
most strictly to the test. The water, and the provender, as well 
green as dry, were scrupulously examined, and proved to be alto- 
gether without fault. There was no unusually hard work — no 
want of cleanliness in the stables. The disease was, however, 
very materially connected with the situation of the stables. It was 
confined to those horses alone that were exposed to the mountain 
wind, and the wind blew with unusual coldness and violence from 
the mountains at that time. This might be taken as a predisposing 
cause ; it might, as frequently as otherwise, be the exciting cause. 
In many places in the country, where there was the same exposure 
to these winds, there were similar diseases ; and as soon as the wind 
changed, and the weather became milder, the disease gradually de- 
clined, and at length ceased altogether. In cases of a milder form 
we can often readily trace this atmospheric agency, and the more 
vital organs are not exempt. 
[We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Ernes for this translation 
from the Neapolitan Veterinary Journal, edited by Professor 
Ferdinand de Nanzio. — Y.] 
ON FRAGILITY OF THE BONES IN CATTLE. 
By Herr Brunck. 
[Continued from p. 65.] 
At the meeting of the Committee of the Agricultural Society of 
Rhenish Hessia, on the 13th of February, 1837, their vice-presi- 
dent, Herr Brunck, burgomaster in Fiirfelden, an extensive and 
scientific agriculturist, gave the following account of this malady : — 
The disease known by the name of “ Fragility of the Bones in Cat- 
tle,” and which has prevailed during several years in this province, 
has caused great loss to agriculturists and the owners of cattle ; not 
only from the value of the cattle that die under it, but from the 
injurious influence which it exerts on agricultural labour and the 
cultivation of the vine ; and should it continue much longer, it will 
inevitably cause the total ruin of many farmers. It is highly neces- 
sary that the Government should interfere, for as yet no one has dis- 
covered either the cause of the disease or any means of cure. 
