408 
MOLLITIES OSSIUM. 
form; but the ring^ or body, of the atlas was curved from below 
upwards at its anterior and middle part, and had attached to 
the extremity of this curved portion an extra piece which was 
carried with a sweep upwards and backwards to join the body 
of the bone superiorly. This interposed, portion of bone 
contributed on either side to the formation of the concavities 
for the attachment of the two occipital bones. The spinal 
marrow was not bifid, as only a common but enlarged cavity 
existed in the atlas. 
MOLLITIES OSSIUM. 
We are indebted to Messrs. Crowhurst, Brothers, 
M.B.C.V.S., Canterbury, for a specimen of softening and en¬ 
largement of the lower maxilla of a mare. The animal is 
described as being five years old, and to have been free from 
disease until about six months ago, when she was brought 
under Messrs. Crowhursts'’ care for a sprained tendon. Sub¬ 
sequently to this date she fell away in condition, particularly 
during the last three months; her mastication being very 
imperfect. A sudden attack of cerebral disease led to her 
death. 
On making a post-mortem examination it was found that all 
the bones of the head, with the exception of the nasal bones, 
were softened to an extent as readily to admit the point of 
a knife being thrust through them. The inferior maxilla 
was not only softened, but enlarged throughout; and the 
alveoli had undergone such changes as led to the molar teeth 
being pressed downwards to a level with the bone. All the 
other bones of the body appeared to possess their normal 
density. The mare was the property of a miller. 
In our April number we published an interesting article 
on Mollities ossium, from the pen of Professor Brown, in 
which allusion is made to cases of the disease which came 
under the care of Professor Varnell and Mr. Shave, 
M.B.C.V.S., Chelmsford. In these instances, also, the 
horses were the property of millers, which would lead to the 
inference that the origin of the disease was due to something 
deleterious in the food usually supplied by such persons to 
their animals. 
The microscopical appearances in Messrs. Crowhursts^ 
case were identical with those described by Professor Brown 
in the paper referred to. 
