243 
ON HEPATITIS, TRACHEITIS, &C. 
worst that can appear; for what does it shew—that the inflam¬ 
mation is less ?—no ; the pulse belies this : it shews that the 
intensity of the inflammation has left the larynx, where it has 
not been relieved by a discharge of mucus, and is making its 
rapid march by continuity of surface to the lungs. The veterina¬ 
rian puts in requisition the aids of venesection and medicine, 
but finds that the blister he applies to the throat and neck pro¬ 
duces no eft'ect, and, if this is the case, the animal in all proba¬ 
bility dies. The complaint, however, does not usually cause 
death in a day or two, and the horse, in the eyes of the attendants, 
often seems better: the practitioner is told, perhaps, in the 
morning, when he visits his patient, that he is much better; but 
a few minutes’ observation with the finger on the pulse convinces 
him of the fallacy of the assertion. In a few days a bloody of¬ 
fensive discharge appears from the nostrils, which puts him (in 
the opinion of the veterinarian) beyond the sphere of hope. The 
breathing during this time may present various appearances, 
sometimes much accelerated, at other times scarcely quicker than 
in health. The post-mortem examination discovers the mucous 
membrane of the trachea, &c. approaching to a state of gangrene, 
and the lungs bearing the marks of the direful spread of the ma¬ 
lady. I know not to what cause to attribute the unusual spread 
of this complaint, or why it should appear with so virulent a 
character. May not the inflammation be so intense as to suppress 
the secretion of mucus altogether? and may not the want of na¬ 
ture’s relief be one reason for the great danger that attends the 
complaint ? 
DISEASE OF THE HOCK JOINT. 
Whilst making the post-mortem examination I have before de¬ 
scribed, the owner informed me that the horse had been affected 
with a slight lameness behind, most noticeable on moving him 
out in the morning, but which nearly disappeared with exercise, 
and again became considerably worse after hunting, and then re¬ 
quired a week’s rest or more to bring him comparatively well 
again. There were no ringbones or spavins, and I felt convinced 
that the mischief existed between the tibia and astragalus. I 
therefore described the parts to the owner, and the appearances I 
was pretty certain I should find. The joints w^ere opened, and 
a moment discovered an abrasion of the middle protuberance of 
the tibia, about half an inch in length, and a fourth of an inch 
in breadth, with a corresponding though less appearance on the 
concavity of the astragalus. 
In the December number of The Veterinarian, 1830, now 
upwards of two years since, in a paper on this complaint, I en¬ 
deavoured to call the attention of others to it. I am not aware 
