907 
PATHOLOGY OF BROKEN WIND. 
By the same. 
In the October issue of the Veterinarian Yeritas^^ makes 
a most unjust accusation of my having pirated the theory of 
broken wind^ which is put forward in my essay, read before 
the Irish Central Veterinary Medical Association, from 
Professor Williams, through my having gained a sight 
of my brothers “ note-book.This statement I hasten to 
disprove. 
For the last six years I have made lung diseases of the 
horse my special study; and the theory which I claim to be the 
originator of is the result of careful researches and investi¬ 
gations on the subject which were instituted before Professor 
Williams became the Principal of the Edinburgh Veterinary 
College or my brother thought of entering the profession. 
Further, I affirm that I never had any conversation with 
my brother relative to the disease till after my paper was 
written; nor have I ever read a note of his on the subject. 
I can perhaps account for the similarity which may exist 
between Professor AVilliams^ view and my own respecting 
the derangement of the nervous system in this disease, from 
the circumstance that, in all probability, our first idea of this 
being the case was obtained from the same source, namely, 
the lectures of the late lamented Professor Barlow, who left 
behind him many beautiful but undeveloped theories. 
The pathological view of the paralysis of the muscular 
fibres of the bronchial tubes, their ultimate atrophy, and 
probable absorption, was entirely the product of my own 
investigations, and I never either saw in print or heard of a 
similar opinion before. I am proud, however, to find this 
view corresponds with that of so able and painstaking a 
veterinarian as Professor Williams, whom I look on as an 
ornament to the position he occupies. 
I would much sooner see ^WVritas ” employing his early 
literary talents and evident good note-taking to a better 
purpose than acting the part, especially if he is a new y 
fledged member of the profession, of a presumptuous critic,^^ 
Let me recommend to him deeper investigations into the 
pathology of broken wind. These are quite possible. The 
task of making them is one which I have set myself to do, 
and which I hope to show the result of, on some future 
occasion. 
