200 
AN INTERESTING CASE OF MELANOSIS. 
attending the case. We well know the morbid appearances the 
lungs of some animals present, even if they be destroyed the 
moment the disease is detected. Again, knowing the nature of 
the disease, how the vessels pour out the coagulable portion of the 
blood into the tissues of the lungs, even from the very first of the 
animal being attacked, we can hardly suppose a case (after having 
gone on for some considerable time, as the one recorded in your 
Journal must have done, without being treated, or, what is the same 
thing, the treatment not taking any effect) to be rapidly restored by 
counter-irritation, however energetic; but rather consider this in¬ 
teresting case as one in which the febrifuge medicine, combined 
with the ordinary irritants, had been silently but still certainly at 
work in arresting the disease, and the unfavourable symptoms had 
arisen from the debility attendant on the disease, which debility 
the tonic medicine had the desired effect in removing. Had the 
aggravated symptoms arisen solely from organic disease of the 
lungs, and that a disease of such a nature as the one under con¬ 
sideration, surely no remedy, either externally applied or in¬ 
ternally administered, could have a very rapid effect in restoring 
the animal. At an earlier stage I think the actual cautery might 
be very successfully resorted to in the treatment of this disease. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient servant. 
N.B.—You are at liberty to make such use of this letter as you 
may think fit, its sole object being to elicit information. 
AN INTERESTING CASE OF MELANOSIS, 
MISJUDGED AND MALTREATED. 
By Edw. Mayhew, M.R.C. V.S., Spring-street , 
Westb our ne-ter race, Paddington. 
It is my desire to report to you a case which probably may be 
instructive, and, as illustrating the old proverb, that “ doctors 
differ,” perhaps in some degree amusing. A gentleman of pro¬ 
perty living in this neighbourhood has a fine grey horse on which 
he sets much value. The animal is nearly thorough-bred, and 
stands at least sixteen hands high. Its action and courage have 
made it a favourite with its master, who has not found that the 
qualities lor which he prized it have suffered any diminution, 
although it is now fully aged, and something more, for in colour it 
begins to whiten. 
