LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 61 
After a. careful examination in connection with the symptoms I 
became quite satisfied that the sesamoid bones of both fore legs were frac¬ 
tured, and that treatment was out of the question. The owner called 
on the following day,and after explaining the nature of the fracture to 
him I advised him to have her destroyed, which he agreed to. A post¬ 
mortem examination showed all four sesamoid bones fractured trans¬ 
versely about the lower third, the upper two-thirds having the appear¬ 
ance. of being torn away by the powerful suspensory ligament, whilst 
the inferior third was held by the inferior sesamoideal ilgaments, thus 
exposing the internal structure of the bone. I am of opinion that the 
bones had been diseased at least twelve months, and that the animal 
would have shown signs of it to a close observer. 
The above communication gave rise to a very interesting discussion, 
in which almost every member present took part. The following is a 
brief summary of the principal points touched upon : 
Mr. Elam, in reply, to questions by various speakers, said that he 
could not detect any diseased condition in any of the other bones of the 
body, and that from a careful examination of the sesamoid bones made 
immediately after taking the specimens home, he was of opinion that 
they were affected with caries. 
The general opinion expressed by the other members, however, was 
in favour of the diseased condition being of the nature of osteo porosis, 
from the fact that the lesions occurred simultaneously in both fore legs, 
without the infliction of any adequate strain to produce them if healthy. 
The absence of pain when the animal was at rest was considered to 
contraindicate the presence of caries, and that although from the speci¬ 
mens being dry and surrounded with their periosteal covering, and 
having the ligaments attached, no very decided opinion could then be 
given. Still, it was stated that when the long bones are affected, the 
presence of the diseased condition is difficult to determine until after 
the bones have been either macerated or boiled. 
As to the cause or causes of osteo-porosis no very definite opinion 
was arrived at. It had been observed in every variety of breeds of 
horses, and to occur under different systems of feeding. It generally 
affected young animals, although not invariably so. The most remark¬ 
able development of this disease was related by Mr. Woods , of Wigan, 
in which, he said, about a dozen of Hungarian ponies, belonging to a 
mining firm in his district, became almost simultaneously affected, the 
acute symptoms manifesting themselves immediately on being put to 
work, after having rested during Whit-week. One of these ponies was 
ten years old, and had been in the pit for seven years, while none of the 
others were over five years old, and had been in the pit for from two to 
three years. He, Mr. Woods, attributed the disease at the time to the 
ponies getting too much Indian corn while idle, and it was a curious 
tact that after its withdrawal no more cases occurred at that period. 
The general opinion expressed by the members, however, was, that 
the principal cause of this disease was some constitutional diathesis , 
which certain other conditions might intensify. And although in Mr. 
Wood’s cases no previous symptoms had been noticed, in the cases 
related by the other members, symptoms of lameness of a shifting and 
recurrent character had been invariably observed. 
Mr. Elam then communicated the notes of two cases of “ Death from 
intestinal calculi.” The first case was that of a chestnut mare, belonging 
to a detachment of the Royal Dragoons, which had arrived in Liverpool 
the previous day from Colchester. She was reported to be in good 
health and spirits during the whole of the journey, and only began to 
