645 
A PECULIAR AND UNUSUAL DISEASE OF THE 
OSSEOUS TISSUE IN THE HORSE; RESEM¬ 
BLING IN MANY OF ITS CHARACTERISTICS 
MOLLITIES OSSIUM, RHACHITIS, OSTEO¬ 
POROSIS, AND FATTY DEGENERATION OF 
BONE. 
By G. Varnell, M.R.C.V.S., 
Assistant-Professor, Royal Veterinary College, London. 
{Continuedfromp. 581.) 
Continuing my description of these singular cases, I may 
next observe, that while the artist was making drawings of 
the diseased bones, a surgeon, who had spent many years in 
the Western States of America, happened to call upon me, 
and after a slight inspection of the bones, he remarked 
that they were analogous in their pathological character 
with a disease which he had seen in that country, desig¬ 
nated 44 Big Head,” from the enlarged condition of the head. 
He said that he had never investigated its nature, but knew 
that it was a very common and he believed also an incurable 
affection. 
In the year 1845, it will probably be remembered, that I 
drew attention to this malady in a short paper which I read 
before the members of the 44 Veterinary Medical Association ,” 
on some of the diseases peculiar to the horse in America. Ere 
long I hope to obtain some more authentic information on 
44 Big Head,” which 1 think possesses many of the charac¬ 
teristics of the affection of Mr. Champion’s horses. 
In a letter which I have lately received from St. Louis, 
Missouri, U.S., the subject of 44 big head” is alluded to ; the 
writer, however, says he knows but little of the disease himself, 
he having been in the above place only a few months, and 
no case having yet come under his immediate notice. He also 
says, that, 44 some time since, a veterinary practitioner from 
the State of Illinois called on him, and had some con¬ 
versation on this subject. He attributes the disease to the 
horses eating too much Indian corn (maize), and is of opinion 
that much good could be done by altering their food. He 
explained that the whole skeleton is more or less affected by 
the disease, and said that he had known both tibia to be 
fractured in consequence of the changed condition of their 
osseous tissue. My friend has promised to investigate this 
