SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 53l 
Professor Walley also submitted for the inspection of members several 
other pathological specimens, including the head of a goat affected with 
osteo-porosis, and the caecal tubes of a fowl, in the walls of which were 
imbedded nematode worms. 
Mr. Dacre, of Manchester, who was present as a visitor, showed the 
proximal extremity of the radius and ulna of a heifer which had suffered 
from sudden and excessive lameness of the elbow-joint. The lameness 
was not traceable to any external injury. After death the articular sur¬ 
face of the radius was found to be extensively diseased, the articular 
cartilage and underlying compact tissue being in parts removed, and the 
cancellated tissue exposed. The subject had been of a scrofulous 
constitution, and Mr. Dacre thought the arthritic disease was of that 
nature. 
Mr. Reid stated, that for the past nine years, during which period he 
had been inspector at Leith, the burgh had never been free from pleuro¬ 
pneumonia. He was now, however, able to state that there was not a 
case within the bounds, nor had there been one for fifty-six days. This 
very satisfactory state of things he attributed chiefly to the practice of 
inoculation which had recently been carried out by Mr. Rutherford. 
Professor Walley , while inclined to give considerable credit to inocu¬ 
lation, thought the result was in great measure due to the operation of 
the new Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, which prevented the intro¬ 
duction of new cases from without. 
Mr. Robertson , Kelso, in continuation of a paper read by him at a pre¬ 
vious meeting, made the following remarks on the subject of u Arthritis 
or Joint Disease in young animals.” 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen— Having in my former appearances 
before you entered somewhat in detail into th e morbid anatomy &&& patho¬ 
logy of arthritic disease in young animals, I had intended at this time 
more particularly to have directed your attention to its probable etiology , 
examining in detail those various causes which observation and experi¬ 
ment seem to indicate as operating in its production. This, however, I 
will not now attempt, but endeavour in few words to bring the subject to 
a conclusion at this time. I fear I have already been somewhat tedious, 
and prevented you from considering other matters at least equally 
important and interesting. If I have not given you aught new on the 
subject, or propounded any startling theory in connection with it, I have 
had at least the satisfaction of having accomplished one great object, that 
of bringing this disease under the notice of this society, then to obtain 
what facts and information others may possess who have encountered it 
in some of our animals. In previously remarking on the subject of 
arthritic disease, notice was taken of its more extensive distribution and 
virulent form of development in all our domestic animals at the present 
time than what appears to have been the case in the early part of the 
present century or the latter part of last. I would also desire that you 
remember that it is chiefly in all these animals—horses, cattle, and sheep, 
a disease of the superior varieties; or it may be of any variety when 
bred and reared under markedly artificial conditions of existence, and 
that it rarely appears amongst our more primitive breeds, unless these 
are largely manipulated and interfered with, with a view to their rapidity 
on perfection of development, that when appearing amongst a number of 
animals, calves or lambs, it rarely attacks isolated individuals, but rather 
assumes the enzootic form. Further, that when appearing amongst 
stocks, particularly sheep, we observe that the dams are very generally 
serious sufferers from some markedly systemic disorder. 
