584 
R. W. BURKE. 
\ 
the predisposing factor. The acquired defective hoof deter¬ 
mines the character of the defect in the limb. Gen. Grant, in 
his letter to Dunbar, endorsed this significance of the influence 
exerted by the hoof. 
A springhalt gait from any other cause is not springhalt. 
To class it with chorea, or to imagine it due to changes in the 
bones of the hock is nonsense. The changes in the hock and 
elsewhere are coincident; results, not causes. 
Let members of the veterinary profession take up this 
great study of veterinary orthopedics, animal locomotion and 
organization—pedospedics, as Mr. Hubbell has named it—or 
by whatever name we finally decide to call the study, instead 
of all rushing into specialties in bacteriology, etc., and depend 
upon it a domain containing treasures of such richness and 
such interest will be found, that if known more perfectly now 
might have made the recent grand achievements of Sunol, 
Palo Alto, Allerton and Nelson several seconds faster. This 
is the science that is not only to save our phenomenal two- 
year-olds from decrepitude at five, but that is to make it pos¬ 
sible for them to rival their early achievements when three 
times five. 
Among our great horsemen a few have seemed to appreci¬ 
ate the importance of this glorious subject, more have tried 
to explain it, but none with the comprehensiveness to which 
it is entitled. The veterinary profession still has an opportu¬ 
nity to demonstrate the richness of some of the gems it con¬ 
tains. It ought to be one of the most important “ chairs ” in 
our veterinary educational institutions, and one that many 
among our influential people would delight in assisting to 
endow. Let us do original work here, and not look to France 
and Germany for everything new. Let us begin now, before 
some one has to teach us, and again carry off the honors. 
THE GENERAL PATHOLOGY OF “SURRA” IN ANIMALS. 
By R. W. Burke, F.R.C.V.S., Corresponding Member of the Italian 
Veterinary Academy, Army Veterinary Department, Amballa. 
(Reprint from The Empress Press, Amballa.) 
The contributions to the literature of surra in the pages of 
