2 
MELANOSIS. 
M.R.C.V.S., Cheltenham, accompanied with the following 
letter : 
Cheltenham, November 14 t/i, 1881. 
Dear Varnell, —I have forwarded by Great Western Railway a morbid 
specimen, consisting of an hypertrophied spleen, with melanotic tumours 
of various dimensions on it. The subject of this malady was a well-bred 
gray gelding, about twenty years old, which I have known for several years 
as a brougham-horse, and upon whom I operated about two years since in 
removing a melanotic tumour adherent to the depressor muscles of the 
coccygis, opposite to the anus. It weighed nine ounces, and the animal has 
continued to work ever since, up to within a fortnight of the present date, 
always being in excellent condition, and maintaining his animated spirits, 
when he suddenly became emaciated. Being called in, after an examination 
I apprehended the existence of melanotic tumours internally, and, con¬ 
sidering the case was a hopeless one, I recommended him to be destroyed. 
I would make one remark regarding the presence of these tumours. The 
subjects of them I have generally found keep up their condition, but that 
the disease should have gone on to such an extraordinary degree in the pre¬ 
sent instance, until so recently, and the general health of the patient not to 
be impaired by it, seems something wonderful to me. 
If, on examination of the parts, you think there is anything singular in 
this case, I shall be glad to peruse your remarks in our professional journal, 
or otherwise. 
I remain, 
Yours very truly. 
The next case that came under my notice was similar in its 
nature to the above, and was forwarded to Professor Spooner, 
who, in one of his lectures, explained his views of the case to 
the class. This extraordinary specimen was sent by Mr. 
Jones, M.R.C.Y.S., of Worship Street. The animal dropped 
down while at his ordinary w ork, in the Victoria Docks, and 
died soon after. Melanotic tumours had existed on the tail 
for several years, and the spleen w as found diseased, like that 
communicated by Mr. Hooper. 
The other case w as sent a short time since to the Editors of 
the Veterinarian , accompanied w ith the morbid parts : 
Kingston, Yeovil, Wednesday, Nov. With, 1861. 
Gentlemen, —By train this day you will receive a part of a lung belonging 
to a thorough-bred gray mare. She had never been decidedly ill, but for the 
last two or three months had been “ off her feed ” to a great extent; until 
at length she presented a most emaciated appearance. 
She was the property of a commercial gentleman, and was sent to me 
about a week ago. Her pulse and breathing were natural, but she fre¬ 
quently moaned. The breath was foetid. Some incipient melanotic tumours 
also existed under the tail and about the perinseum. 
During the week I had the care of her her appetite gradually improved, 
her spirits became more cheerful, and she sometimes even ate with avidity. 
I gave her repeated small dose§_of arsenic, but on Sunday last she got down, 
was unable to rise again, and died in the night. On opening her the follow¬ 
ing day, I found nearly three fourths of the left lung a completely blackened 
