358 
VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
with lameness, from inflammation and ulceration of the synovial 
membrane. Exostosis was a subsequent affair. Common spavin, 
however, was in the commencement an exostosis. Over-exertion 
had produced inflammation in the substance between the meta¬ 
tarsals, and had packed the bones together : over-exertion was 
likewise the probable cause of the inflammation of the synovial 
membrane of the cuneiform bones. 
Mr. Slocombe stated, that, in the late frost, a gentleman’s 
horse fell in its journey to town. No lameness was perceived on 
that day, but on the second day it could scarcely move. There 
was no external swelling, but a slight heat could be perceived 
round one hock. He applied a stimulating embrocation, and the 
horse got better. The groom said, that it was a disease of the 
round bone. It was afterwards sent to the College, and Mr. 
Sewell pronounced it to be spavined ; and, on being asked where 
the enlargement was, affirmed that spavin frequently existed 
without any enlargement of the hock. 
Mr. Youait lamented that the office which he held as registrar 
rendered it impossible for him to take any useful part in the de¬ 
bates of the Society: he could not, however, help interfering here. 
He did not think that justice had been done to one of the most 
important subjects that had lately come under consideration. 
The question had not been yet stated with sufficient clearness. 
Various diseases of the hock had been confounded under the 
name spavin; but, in his mind, there was as much difference be¬ 
tween the common spavin (the bony union between the metatar¬ 
sals and the exostosis frequently consequent on it), and ulceration 
of the synovial membrane of the cuneiform bones, as there was 
between the navicular joint disease and any other disorganization 
of the internal structure of the foot. They might be connected, 
but were perfectly distinct. They might run into each other; 
one might be the consequence of the other: or each alone might 
pursue its course, and produce permanent lameness. He could 
wish that the term spavin should be confined to that enlargement 
connected with the bony union of the metatarsals, which veteri¬ 
nary writers and horsemen had uniformly distinguished under 
that term ; and that some other and appropriate name should be 
given to the inflammation and ulceration of the internal structure 
of the hock, and particularly of the cuneiform bones, which Mr. 
Goodwin had so excellently described. This distinction being 
made, he was much mistaken if the veterinary public would not 
soon acknowledge itself as much indebted to Mr. Goodwin for 
the discovery, or, at least, the elucidation of a frequent, and ob¬ 
scure, and unsuspected cause of lameness behind, as they will to 
Mr. J. Turner for the light he has thrown on as frequent, and ob¬ 
scure, and previously unsuspected cause of lameness before. 
