40 
J. MYERS. 
he freely perspired. Notwithstanding that such communications are 
sometimes unreliable, still I must corroborate this mode of genesis, as 
it at one time occurred to myself in the same manner, and I have pos¬ 
itive reasons to accept this as a foundation, for such events often give 
an impulse to the production of the disease. Horses of nobler origin 
are seemingly less attacked by this malady; experience has not 
enlightened me sufficiently however, to determine whether this horse 
has a greater power of resistance, or that it is owing to the better 
hygienic condition he is under, since on account of superior qualities, 
he is possessed by wealthy individuals who can provide for his good 
attendance. Corn, which is the principal nourishment here, is consid¬ 
ered by some as the source of this derangement, though horses per¬ 
forming agricultural labor, remain, with but few exceptions, exempt 
therefrom, notwithstanding they are fed upon corn during the whole 
year but the summer time, when they have the benefit of grass as a 
substitute for hay, which cannot be too highly commended towards 
reviving the organism. Horses employed and stabled in the city, on 
the contrary are confined principally to oats and hay, and it is precise¬ 
ly from this mode of stable management that this disease emerges 
most frequently. It is no seldom occurrence that this slave of the 
community receives nothing but oats and hay in superabundance for 
years, partially due to convenience, (chop feed requiring but little 
labor) and partly on account of the unfounded prejudice some have to 
corn, whereupon imbecility of digestion supervenes. 
Symptomatology. The precursory signs vary somewhat. The for¬ 
merly faultless ambition gradually disappears, the animal lies fre¬ 
quently, appetite remittant and altered. Some preferring corn 
and hay, others chop feed; desire for water diminished; foeces in 
dry, small tough glistening balls, urine muddy, smaller in quantity, 
evacuated in some cases with difficulty, and flanks drawn up. The 
visible mucous membranes of a pale hue, occasionally icterish, respira¬ 
tion and circulation as yet normal ; accompanying these appearances, 
lameness in either limb or joint, which present different characteristics. 
It may now be related to the shoulder joint, at another time to the 
hip joint with cold hoofs and faint circulation in the foot, while the 
healthy limb possesses natural warmth. One third of the patients 
have hydrarthrosis; however in some cases it may be only cellular 
hypertrophy with increased temperature and sensibility. A warm 
doughy painful swelling which involves one or both metatarsal regions 
I 
