206 SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
analyses made for him by Professor Dewar albumen was found in 
considerable quantity. 
Professor Walley exhibited a fibrous tumour weighing 86 lbs., 
which had been removed from the abdominal cavity of a sheep. 
It was of an enormous size, and on section was found to have 
undergone a considerable amount of softening in its central 
portion. 
Mr. Robertson , in continuation of the paper on “ Arthritic or 
Joint Disease in Young Stock,” read by him at the previous 
meeting, proceeded as follows : 
In any attempt to arrive at a correct estimate of those causes 
which are the chief factors in the induction of this morbid con¬ 
dition, it is certainly more advisable to take a large or liberal 
view of the subject than to confine our attention to a few iso¬ 
lated cases of its manifestation; to those, in fact, which admit 
of explanation probably by considering the action of more than 
one adverse condition. No doubt cases exhibiting in most of 
their features the characteristic symptoms and changes of this 
too well-known and fatal malady are often, or it may be regularly, 
met with every season and amongst all herds, and may be capable 
of explanation by reference to some peculiar idiosyncrasy or con¬ 
stitutional defect of individual animals, operated on by very 
diverse extrinsic influences. This, however, is not the condition 
we are called upon to consider. When large numbers of animals, 
possessing very varied individual constitutional peculiarities, and 
subject to much variation as to external influence, become the 
subjects of special organic changes, the causes of this morbid 
action, we apprehend, must be looked for in some special and 
largely operating adverse influence. 
In the remarks which I formerly made regarding the patho¬ 
logy of this disease, you may recollect that I directed your 
attention to several received opinions as to the nature of the 
malady, opinions entertained by those who, considering their 
knowledge and opportunities, may be regarded as best able to 
form an opinion thereon. First, we noticed that view which 
regards this arthritic disease as essentially rheumatic in its 
nature. Secondly, that which regards all the structural changes, 
&c., as resulting from, or but the natural sequelae—under certain 
conditions—of, a scrofulous diathesis. Thirdly, the one in which 
it is looked upon as simply metastatic pyaemia, the result of pre¬ 
valent omphalo-phlebitis and umbilical thrombosis. Fourthly, 
that estimate of it which gives it rather the character of a deve¬ 
lopmental disease evidencing a want of formative power in tissue 
production and elaboration, and intimately connected with a 
faulty regimen of one or both parents. The two latter views 
of the nature of enzootic arthritis of young stock are those 
