OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
72 L 
duction of life-power in the capillaries and nerves, that 
plastic or fibrinous exudation takes place, forming organic 
germs. The albuminous tubercle has not this power, its 
cells degenerating as it enlarges. An animal in this state of 
nervous depression is deprived of the natural power of 
resisting disease, and becomes an easy prey to epidemic 
infection. It only requires one case to be introduced or 
generated amongst stock to communicate the disease to the 
whole herd. I therefore emphatically maintain that if the 
stomach was treated on sound physiological principles as 
regards its supplies of food, misdirected digestion would 
subside, and the disease in question would be very soon un¬ 
known in this country. This cannot be accomplished by the 
whole catalogue of nostrums, drugs, and other reputed re¬ 
medies, that only serve to foster the disease by deranging 
the healthy functions of the stomach, and preventing the 
establishment of a sound and vigorous habit of bodv, the 
only security from the malady. 
When such a departure from health and vigour occurs, in 
consequence of the introduction of unsound particles into 
the blood through the stomach, the atonic form of diseased 
action is set up, the capillaries relax, enlarge, and destruc¬ 
tion of tissue follows. This state of affairs mocks the skill 
of the medical attendant, he finds the rts medicatrir naturce 
powerless, and exudation going on; his remedies, though 
ever so well adapted, are unavailing here, through want of 
power in tlie stomach and the other digestive organs to ap¬ 
propriate the medicines suitable to the case. Therefore the 
proprietors of stock should not blame the veterinary surgeon 
because he is unable, at once, to remove this great evil inflicted 
on the digestive and formative processes, by a long course 
of improper feeding. 
OBSERVATIONS ON SOUNDNESS. 
Bv R. II. Dyer, M.R.C.Y.S., Waterford. 
{Continuedfrom p. 668.) 
We now pass on to the ears, to see if warty excrescences 
are to be found in the conchae, and onward to the poll ; to 
ascertain if any disease exists there. Poll-evil is a long time 
becoming matured. I have seen horses with tumefied polls 
pass as sound animals because the integument was entire 
