ON MELANOSIS. 
239 
moved for some hours the intermitting of the pulse. One thing I 
would particularly wish to make plain, that is, the intermitting 
pulse which always in a certain stage of this disease presents itself, 
as sure as the disease exists : and it is a symptom very apt to be 
overlooked; for practitioners are too momentary in their examina¬ 
tion of the pulse, and then the least surprise, or even moving the 
animal, will, for a minute, cause the intermitting to be lost. I have 
no doubt that these cases have been, and still continue to be, consi¬ 
dered by many as slight attacks on the lungs; and for such the poor 
animal is treated. 
ON MELANOSIS. 
By Charles Jackson, Esq., Honourable East India Company's 
Service, Madras Establishment. 
I WAS pleased to find that the conclusion I had come to in my 
own mind, as to the identity of the disease common among horses 
in India, known by the name of ‘‘ diseased tail,” with “ melanosis” 
in the human subject, was confirmed by your intelligent correspond¬ 
ent, Mr. W. C. Spooner. The disease, as described at pages 163 
and 164 of the February Number of this Journal, is very common 
about Madras, but in most cases is confined externally to the tail, 
which is occasionally enormously enlarged. I have seen tumours 
round the anus, and in various parts of the body. Light grey 
horses are most subject to it, and of that colour those with curly 
manes and tails. 
I have never had an opportunity of making a post-mortem exa¬ 
mination ; for though cast when they can no longer bear the crup¬ 
per, horses affected with this disease do not generally suffer in 
health. 
The treatment usually adopted is, to cut away the tumours when 
practicable. I have seen Mr. Hooper, V.S. 4th Regiment Light 
Cavalry, take slices off a tail like a wheelright would from a spoke 
of a wheel. The skin soon healed over again, and the tail looked 
quite respectable to what it did before. 
I have never tried any internal remedy; but I think, as Mr. 
Spooner suggests, that iodine might be useful. The veterinary 
surgeons of the Honourable East India Company’s service labour 
under great disadvantages as to trying any new remedy, for the 
chemical preparations are very dear in India; and we are allowed 
to indent for those medicines only which arc in a list sent us by the 
Medical Board. 
