436 ON INFLAMMATION OF THE JOINTS, 
any idea of the absorbent system, he called it “ vena alba thora¬ 
cis,” and considered its function to be that of nourishing the 
thorax. Some authors say, that Olaus Mudbeche, a Swedish 
anatomist, first discovered the lymphatic vessels; while others 
maintain that it was Thomas Bartholine, a Dane. 
[To be continued.] 
ON INFLAMMATION OF THE JOINTS, PARTICU¬ 
LARLY IN SUCKING FOALS. 
By Mr. R. Pritchard, V. S., Wolverhampton. 
On looking over the first volume of your publication, I ob¬ 
served, at page 221, an account of that species of inflammation 
to which the joints, more especially, of sucking foals are subject, 
by M. Benard, Veterinary Surgeon at Boulogne. This destruc¬ 
tive affection of foals, in which the joints most commonly are at¬ 
tacked with acute inflammation, and which, by metastasis, moves 
from one joint to another, and from one limb to another, I have 
several times witnessed ; and I think, with M. Benard, that it 
arises from colts sucking the mares when they return from work; 
from some change in the milk probably, produced by the exertion 
of the animal keeping up for several hours together increased 
action in the circulation. Mares, after perspiring freely at their 
work, return to the stable, and are frequently allowed to suckle 
their foals when they are hot. I am led to attribute all to this as 
the exciting cause, from the circumstance of observing fine foals, 
the produce of healthy sires and dams, so affected; and, in each 
case that has come under my notice, the mares had been worked. 
The joint attacked enlarges rapidly, from effusion of lymph into 
the surrounding cellular membrane of the joint; the swelling is 
exceedingly firm to the feel, so much so that one would be led to 
conceive the joint never could possibly be again restored. The 
joint is completely fixed, as though it was anchylosed by ossific 
deposition; but in a few days the joint probably becomes as 
perfect as it was prior to the attack, and some one of the joints, 
perhaps in the opposite extremity, becomes the seat of the dis¬ 
ease, and suffers in the same manner. Should the case terminate 
favourably, each joint attacked generally regains a perfect state, 
not the least enlargement remains ; but most frequently the colt 
is destroyed by long-continued irritation exciting inflammation in 
those organs more immediately engaged in life. The pain and 
suffering is of the most excruciating description, particularly 
when the inflammation proceeds in the synovial cavities to such 
