530 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
It was voted, on motion of Dr. Peters, that the endorsement of the Associa¬ 
tion be affixed to the petition, and that the members be requested to subscribe 
their individual signatures. 
Dr. Bunker read a paper on “Action of the Horse.” 
He described the different periods of the horse’s action, periods of movement 
and interval, and the different gaits while in action he described at length. He 
said the trot is an “ American ” gait, and the one in which a horse can put forth 
the extremity of his power. 
He compared the trot of the horse with that of other animals, showing it to 
be perfect only in the former. 
In comparison with the physiological motion of the horse, the essayist de¬ 
scribed certain derangements therefrom, as shown in different kinds of lameness. 
In lameness of the shoulder, we have a loss of extension and flexion of the 
limb, and it is carried in abduction. 
In elbow lameness, the gait is characterized by excessive dropping, the toe of 
the foot comes to ground before the heel, and the carpus bends but very little. 
In carpal lameness, we see a long gait, leg carried straight, in circumduction, 
and heel comes to ground first. 
In lameness from ringbone, on forward limb, heel comes to ground first; on 
hind limb, toe to ground first. 
In hip lameness, we have only slight movement of the hip, and the animal 
goes with a hop. 
In lameness of the stifle, the principal character of the gait is that the limb 
is carried in abduction. 
In hock lameness, of which there are many kinds, we may have different 
gaits, but most of them characterized by a short, quick step, the toe coming to 
the ground first. 
He described the lameness of springhalt, and said that it was seen in some 
horses only in going forward, in others only in going backward. 
Of foot lamenesses, he noticed particularly the gait of an animal affected 
with navicular disease, describing the step as short, quick and catlike; whereas 
in other foot troubles we generally notice an excess of extension. 
Dr. Bunker then showed some very interesting specimens of fracture: A 
fracture of the os suffraginis into 13 pieces, which took place on a smooth road ; 
fracture of acetabulum, one of illium, two specimens of spavin, one exostosis at 
metacarpo-phalangeal articulation, one of navicularthritis. 
Remarks on the paper were made by Drs. Skully, Clements, Bryden and 
Winchester. 
A vote of thanks was tendered the essayist. 
Drs. Blackwood and Winchester were appointed essayists for the next regu¬ 
lar meeting. 
No other business coming before the meeting, it was voted to adjourn. 
L. H. Howard, Secretary. 
