210 
WOUND IN THE SEAT OF CAPPED HOCK. 
thing better than interested assertion is advanced to the contrary, I 
must be pardoned if I conclude such to have been the fact. Then, 
it is even possible the disease might have been almost localized: 
no doubt it existed in other parts, but as its intensity seemed to 
have been concentrated on one particular spot, there is a good basis 
to anticipate it had not virulently developed itself elsewhere. Now, 
supposing the larger growth had been extirpated—granting the ex¬ 
tirpation not to be an impossibility—as the one removed had been 
three years attaining the size it exhibited when I first beheld it, 
who, in the simplicity of my heart I ask, has such an insight into 
futurity, that he could say other tumours would not be equally 
tardy in advancing to a similar bulk 1 Three years of health and 
active life is a long period in equine biography, and would amply 
recompense the pain of any operation, or the short period needed 
to close the wound the knife had left behind. If, however, the 
character of the tumour being ascertained, after-measures were ju¬ 
diciously resorted to, the constitutional tendency might possibly 
have been checked, and before the surgeon was again required to 
employ the knife, one of the many accidents that horse-flesh is heir 
to might have placed the animal beyond the need of human help. 
Such, Sir, is the history of a singular case, which I have endea¬ 
voured to state fairly. If any of the parties whose names are 
mentioned find their opinions to be misrepresented, or their views 
discoloured in my report, I feel assured your pages will be open to 
their contradiction; and it is my confidence in your generosity 
that renders me the more open in my assertions. That I may be 
understood, I conclude with an unreserved declaration of my entire 
dissent from all Mr. Mavor or the gentlemen at the College pre¬ 
sumed to recommend for the treatment of the case, and without 
hesitation pronounce both what was proposed and what was done 
wrong on every principle of surgery, and repulsive to every notion 
of humanity. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
Edward Mayhew. 
16, Spring-street, Westbourne-terrace. 
March 10, 1849. 
WOUND IN THE SEAT OF CAPPED HOCK. 
By W. A. Cartwright, M.R.C.V.S. Whitchurch , Salop. 
On the 8th June, 1843, an aged half-bed grey mare was sent 
to me from a distance of four miles, she having received a severe 
injury to her hock a lew days before from some unknown cause. 
