MALIGNANT SORE THROAT IN A HORSE. 
443 
my inspection ; and I do not remember ever to have met with 
an instance in which diseased action had so completely broken 
up the structure of the parts involved as was the case in this 
instance. What seemed remarkable, and to me more 
especially worthy of note, was the well-defined boundary of 
the disease. In its extent it reached as far forward as the 
papillae circumvallatae, on the dorsum of the tongue, and as far 
back as the posterior part of the pharynx, and in a line with 
the posterior border of the cricoid cartilage of the larynx. 
Between these points the mucous membrane was black, or 
nearly so, and there was considerable loss of its structure, 
more especially near the margin of the epiglottis and aryte¬ 
noid cartilages. The basement membrane was much thickened 
from interstitial infiltration, and the free surface of the 
mucous membrane was covered with a sanguineous, slimy 
fluid. The velum palati , tonsils, submaxillary and lower 
parts of the parotid glands, were much enlarged, and dark 
in colour, and, in addition to these changes, the latter were 
found to have small abscesses in their structure. The swollen 
state of the mucous membrane at the entrance into the 
larynx was so great as to render the passage for the air 
through this part of the tube impervious, making it evident 
that, had not the operation of tracheotomy been performed, 
the horse must have died two or three days before he did. 
Such is a brief outline of the ravages disease had made in the 
tissues and organs forming the boundary of the fauces; and 
although the case may not be an isolated one, even as far as 
its intensity is concerned, nevertheless it is valuable in more 
than one point of view. It suggests to one’s mind that, if 
any good is to be effected in such cases by treatment, it must 
be energetically employed in the very early stages of the dis¬ 
ease ; and at the same time it as fully shows that, in diseases 
of this type, science is often unable to combat the rapid 
strides morbid action is making. Such was so in this instance, 
and therefore the case is of great value to the pupil and 
junior practitioner. It also suggests the importance of in¬ 
quiring into the cause and nature of such affections, whether 
they are enzootic or epizootic, or contagious, and if so, to 
what extent. There is another point, in considering this case, 
which I think is important; it is this :—The lungs are de¬ 
scribed as being e< hepatized, and on a section being made 
through them numerous tubercles containing pus are said 
to have been observed.” The former may have been of recent 
date, but the latter, in all probability, were of long standing. 
If this be so, it may be asked whether the existence of these 
deposits (the “ tubercles”), or the previous condition of the 
