76 
REPORTS OF CASKS. 
loss. In this instance, however, no loss was sustained, and the 
injury was easily relieved by ordinary surgical skill. Is it not 
probable that when such accidents occur many valuable animals 
are slaughtered unnecessarily ? In such cases would it not be bet¬ 
ter to summon a veterinarian than to seize the butcher’s knife ? 
N. S. Townshend. 
Columbus, Ohio, April 5th, 1883. 
A PECULIAR FORM OF SKIN DISEASE FOLLOWING LAMENESS. 
Philadelphia, Pa., February 26, 1883. 
On the 23d of October last, I was called to see a dark brown 
geld. 15^ hands, about eight years old. This animal I was told, 
had been lame on several occasions during the preceding three 
weeks, and at the time I found him lame in the near hind limb; 
lameness characteristic of that in the lower part of the extremity. 
After a very careful and repeated examination, I located the 
trouble at the fetlock joint, but preferred to wait another twenty- 
four hours before making a positive diagnosis. At this point 
there was increased heat, a little swelling, but no appearance of a 
strain or injury of any kind. I placed the animal under alter¬ 
ative treatment of dram doses of the iodide and nitrate of potass, 
and the same amount of carbonate soda; believing that I had a 
case of rheumatism to deal with. I also ordered the parts bathed 
with soap liniment. Visited the next day, symptoms and condi¬ 
tions the same, except slight loss of appetite and an elevation of one 
degree in his temperature. Two days later, on calling to see my 
patient, I was confronted with a well marked case of hip-joint 
lameness, with considerable heat at the latter articulation. The 
fever at the fetlock had disappeared. Continued the same treat¬ 
ment, as I felt more satisfied that the lameness was rheumatic 
in character. On the 25 th no better, and I gave my patient a 
purging ball of six drachms of aloes, which acted promptly and 
well. Calling on the 27th, I found my patient all right, lame, 
ness gone, no fever in any part of the limb, and to all appearances 
as well as before. Feeling uncertain as to whether the altera- 
tives or purging removed the lameness, I reminded the owner of 
the probability of its return. About three days had elapsed when 
