REPORTS OF CASES. 
5or 
growth which those horses ingested with their food, and that the 
toxic effect induced a persistent laryngeal spasm terminating in 
death. A number of horses and colts are in another field half a 
mile distant from the fatal one none of whom have become affected. 
This, I think, indicates that the cause is local and confined 
to this one field. This pasture lot and oat stubble is remarkably 
free from weeds, entirely devoid of trees of any kind and only 
has a few rods of osage hedge on one side. It is seeded in tame 
grass, and is well drained. During the past four weeks these ani¬ 
mals have been fed partly on hay and oatrakings, as the grass in 
the fields is all burnt up by the prolonged drought. 
REMOVAL OF CAULKBOIL BY ELASTIC LIGATURE. 
By J. C. Myers, Jr., V. S., Cincinnati, Ohio. 
About thirty years ago the elastic ligature was introduced in 
in human surgery rendering efficient services. Gradually it 
found its way into the veterinary field. Why it is that this prac¬ 
tical modus operandi has not become more popular in our profes¬ 
sion is not clear to me. I do not want it understood that it is 
due to inactivity, no, no, the veterinary literature of the day 
gives evidences that we have untiring and able workers who keep 
abreast with the human medical and other esteemed branches of 
science. Microscopy and antiseptic doctrine have wrought great 
changes in veterinary science and if it has been at the expense 
of practice, the development in these directions will soon equalize 
matters. 
Well known authorities entertain different opinions regarding 
the use of the elastic ligature. Pench and Toussaint prefer it to 
any other. In comments on an article from a French journal on 
this subject, Hering pointed out the advantages attained by 
Rossignol and Nocard in various operations by means of this 
contrivance and observed that the elastic ligature seemed to gain 
favor with veterinarians. 
Fleming, in his operative surgery, regards this expedient as a 
useful surgical auxiliary, and, in a plain, concise way, presents 
its pratical application; while Vogel, Liautard and Bayer, 
