640 
THE CRAMP IN HORSES. 
every step, and the limb was carried more slowly forward than 
in its natural state. 
We applied successively mercurial ointment, tincture of can- 
tharides, and blistering ointment, but without avail. The animal 
was finally condemned as unfit for work. 
It would be interesting to know whether the cramp had pro¬ 
duced the curb : the cessation of the muscular contraction after 
the appearance of the osseous tumour would render this probable. 
CASE V. 
November 12th, 1826, I attended on a Swiss horse, four and a 
half years’ old, who, since he had taken a cold bath in the Arve 
(a river which has its source from the Glaciers), had cramp in 
the left fore leg. In the stable, as in the other cases, the weight 
of the body seemed to be equally distributed over all the legs ; 
but when he began to move, he dragged this limb. After six or 
seven paces he began to press on the toe, the limb still being 
inclined backward; but the limb gradually regained its natural 
position, the muscular contraction diminished, and, having gone 
about fifteen paces, the lameness had quite disappeared. 
The account given by the coachman rendered it probable that 
the disease had been produced by sudden suppression of the per¬ 
spiration ; and I, therefore, ordered the leg to be well rubbed 
four times every day with flannels dipped in hot oil, and, after 
each inunction, irons moderately heated were passed over the 
limb. This treatment was continued six or seven days; and 
only a very trifling abatement of the complaint having been pro¬ 
duced, the oil, camphor, and opium, were resorted to, which en¬ 
tirely removed the cramp. During seventeen days the animal 
did his work w 7 ell; but on the 18th day the cramp returned,without 
warning or apparent cause. The same means w T ere applied, and 
the animal again did well for twenty-six days. On the 
27th day the cramp again attacked him, and w r as once 
more easily got rid of by the same liniment. The owner was 
now tired of all this, and sold the horse. 
CASE VI. 
April 5th, 1828, I visited a mare, six years old, lame in the 
right hind leg. She also stood apparently w r ell on her four legs 
in the stable, but on being moved limped on three legs, dragging 
the fourth after her: but the lameness did not go oft on exercise. 
The camphorated opiate liniment w as used, and on the following 
day the lameness disappeared ; the mare returned to her w r ork, 
and continued free from lameness thirty-three days. On the 
thirty-fourth day she again became lame, and once more the 
