204 
AN INTERESTING CASE OF MELANOSIS. 
my counsel; but to test its soundness further, and to seek what 
most persons are pleased to think the highest advice, ordered the 
horse to be taken to the Royal Veterinary College at Camden- 
town, so that Professors might sit umpires over a professional 
dispute. To Saint Pancras, consequently, the horse was ridden, and 
there examined. The opinion given pronounced the removal by 
the knife not to be warranted unless the horse was given up for 
experiment, but recommended that a seton should be passed 
through the swelling. 
After this, all idea of operation was, of course, relinquished, and 
Mr. Woodger was called upon to do as the College authorities had 
directed. The skin was snipped, and the needle thrust in; but 
during its passage no sign of pain was shewn. The tape was then 
drawn through, and it came forth black. The truth was now ap¬ 
parent, for the evidence was seen which gave proof that the 
tumour was a melanotic growth. Three days after this, chancing to 
meet Mr. Broad, accident caused us to talk about the case, and then 
I learnt what had been done. Before I was informed that the tu¬ 
mour was malignant I protested against the cruelty of the proceed¬ 
ing, from which no possible benefit could result, and, when I was 
acquainted with the fact, I unhesitatingly pronounced the horse was 
murdered. By the politeness of my friend, who saw the interest 
I felt in this animal, I was taken to see it, and sad indeed was the 
change which I beheld. The tumour was at least three pounds 
larger than when, about a month before, it had been submitted to 
my notice. The part was not now devoid of feeling. The poor horse 
was shy, even when it w r as looked at, and flinched when it was touch¬ 
ed, however gently. Seeing this, I said the period for operation had 
gone by; I would not then use the knife, had I the freest permission 
to do so; but were the horse my property, I would send for the 
knacker to end its misery. 
A few days ago, on Wednesday, the 28th of February, I saw 
Mr. Woodger, and from that gentleman I ascertained, the seton, 
having for a week continued in, was then withdrawn, and nothing 
particular had since been attempted. I also learned that the tumour 
shewed a disposition to burst; and when it does so, may I ask what 
medicine will repair the wound! 
Such is the history of the case; and as it calls in question my 
opinion, may I venture to intrude upon your space so far as may 
be necessary for its justification 1 Here one party declares removal 
by operation an impossibility, and another says it may be attempted 
only as an experiment. Now, these two judgments are, so far as 
they relate or have any bearing on the decision I had given, the 
self-same thing. With experiments, as they are called, I have 
long since declared I will have nothing to do. To the extent a 
