REMARKS ON FIRING, &C. 633 
terferes with the functions of the suspensory ligament, or the 
flexor tendons, or perhaps both, I have given one stroke, and that 
into the seat of mischief. Also in that accident, of such frequent 
occurrence, of a rupture of some of the fibres of the suspensory 
ligament near its insertion into the sessamoid bones, either internal 
or external, or, perhaps, both ; and in either of which cases I be¬ 
lieve the periosteotomy knife of Mi\ Sewell would be of no service. 
The discussion between Mr. W. C. Spooner and Mr. Dick has 
no doubt called the attention of many brother vets to the subject 
of diseased hock-joints, and at the present time I have a case under 
treatment that I have no doubt is disease of the joint formed by 
the tibia and astragalus. 1 had one some months since that yielded 
to the means applied, but I have not had an opportunity of ex¬ 
amining a hock that w^as in a state of disease of that joint, and 
that I had known the previous history of. I should think that 
there are very few readers of The Veterinarian, judging from 
the papers Mr. Spooner has often written, who think him inca¬ 
pable of distinguishing between a sound and an unsound joint. 
I also think that Mr. Dick was a little too sarcastic in many of 
his remarks. He should have shewn somewhat more courtesy; 
for all veterinary surgeons cannot be professors, and, even if they 
were, they could reap very little benefit by the professorship 
without a class. How will Mr, Dick treat Mr. Ferguson’s paper 
in the present month’s Veterinarian (October) on the same 
disease of the tendons ? 
With respect to puerperal fever in cows, 1 must acknowledge 
myself greatly indebted to Mr. Friend, and with most of his 
views I perfectly coincide. It is not by any means a common 
disease about this neighbourhood. I have not had more than 
three cases these last four years, and have not heard of more 
than two others hereabouts. One case recovered, as 1 consi¬ 
dered, by the use of croton oil, which I gave in doses of fifty 
drops, and, as far as I can recollect, I gave five doses in two days. 
With respect to croton oil, I beg to remark, that, in consequence 
of once taking a drop myself on a bit of bread, and its causing 
such a burning sensation about the throat, 1 have always given 
it since mixed in linseed oil, and have never observed the least 
unpleasant effect. 
One case of puerperal fever being a remarkable one, I will 
give you at length. On the 20th day of January, 1837, 1 
was called about two o’clock p.m. to see a very large and fa¬ 
vourite cow belonging to K. Newman, FLscj. She had calved the 
morning before at six o’clock, and, during the whole of the day, 
appeared to be doing well, but, on the next morning she did not 
give her milk as usual. Being a favourite, she had been sujiplied 
VOL. XI. 4 P 
