I’HE 
VETEEINARIAN. 
VOL.VllI,No.94.] OCTOBER 1835. [New Series, is 0 . 34 . 
A CASE OF OSSIFICATION OF THE AORTA, WITH 
REMARKS ON OSSIFIC DEPOSITS IN GENERAL. 
By Mr, T. W. Meyer,/ z/w., Netvcastle. 
MY attention having lately been directed (by a rare instance 
of ossification of the aorta in the horse) to the consideration of 
ossific deposits, I send the case with some few remarks for 
your insertion in The Veterinarian, if you think it worthy of 
a place there. It is my desire also to render a little of my feeble 
support to your valuable journal. But I do not wish to do this 
by contributing papers, which, masked under anonymous names, 
attack with'virulence and malignity this or that individual, or 
expose what they are pleased to consider the faults of this 
or that institution. I would rather contribute that which will 
enlarge our views on the anatomy, physiology, and patho¬ 
logy of our domesticated animals, and add to the honour and 
respectability of our profession. 
Having said thus much by way of preface, I beg leave to draw 
your attention, first, to ossific deposits in general ; and secondly, 
to the peculiar case in question. 
First—Ossific deposits in general:— 
By ossific deposit we mean a production of ossific matter pro¬ 
duced by a determined action of the arteries, and which becomes 
or nearly approaches to bone. These deposits are of two kinds, 
natural and unnatural—natural, when deposited where nature in¬ 
tended they should be placed. This is illustrated in the formation of 
the bones of a foetus, where they are first cartilage ; and as the 
animal becomes older, bone gradually takes its place : this is a 
natural deposition. Unnatural, when deposited in parts or 
organs which were not intended to be bone ; for instance, in the 
lungs, liver, and, in the peculiar case about to be mentioned, in 
the aorta. Splents, ossified cartilages, &c. are also instances of 
unnatural deposition. In these cases there is a deposition of 
ossific matter where it was not intended that there should be any ; 
consequently it is unnatural. 
VOL. vm. 4 R 
