272 
A. LIAOTARD. 
the neoplasms, considered them probably alike. Virchow says, 
speaking of epulis, or spina ventosa: “It is probable that the 
essentia] influence is here exercised by the primitive starting 
point, that is to say, that it is the mucous tissue of the dental fol¬ 
licles, or the pulp of the developed tooth, or the surrounding tis¬ 
sue of the tooth, periosteum or bone, which serves as the matrix 
of the tumor ; ” thus flxing a diseased process of the dental struc¬ 
ture as the exciting cause. Williams attributes them to tubercu¬ 
lar diathesis, and Gamgee, who says that ‘ there is no recognized 
cause for the disease,” attributes it to a morbid condition of the 
bony structure. 
It therefore seems evident that it is due to a peculiar altera¬ 
tion in the nutrition or development of bony structure, and that 
through a medium of a special irritating cause, as says Virchow, 
“ the mucous tissue of the dental follicle, or the pulp of the de¬ 
veloped tooth, or the surrounding tissue of the tooth, periosteum 
or bone,” the ultimate development of the tumor will take place. 
I was in hope some time ago, that out of the four cases I 
have reported, one at least would prove in a satisfactory manner 
the influence of a special manifest proof, and I thought that I 
could show you that the presence of a decayed tooth might be 
the cause of osteo sarcomatous formation. 
If you will allow me to transgress for a moment: When I 
made my diagnosis in my last case, I stated that the horse was 
suffering with osteo sarcomatous degeneration of the face, brought 
on by carious teeth, and probably stimulated by the improper ex¬ 
traction a healthy molar. This was an error, as you will be able 
to judge in a moment. 
Mr. Gadsden, of Philadelphia, in Turf, Field and Farm , 
and in other papers, makes the claim that he has fche credit of 
having found the true cause of the trouble in Prospero’s case, a 
claim which he has the privilege I am very willing he should 
enjoy, of having contested by a horse-dentist of this city, both 
stating that there was no osteo sarcoma, no big head—for they 
seem to make no distinction between the two diseases—but dis¬ 
eased teeth, carious teeth, and that if they were pulled out the 
horse would get well. 
