BOOK NOTICE. 
439 
passes the median insertion tendon, or latter ramification of the same, 
of the m. tibialis auticus ; between these two tendinous ramifications 
is situated a bursa , and in this bursa, according to Herr D., is to be 
sought the genetic point from which the inflammatory processes extend 
to the fibrous exterior, and, finally to the inner synovial membrane of 
* 
the capsular ligament, and from thence to the periost and tele ossea, 
followed by the osteophyte development. Or, in his own words : “ Der 
Spat stellt nach meiner Auffassung einer complicirten entzundungs- 
Process von chronischen Verlaufedar, welchyr in dem inneren Blatte 
der Bursa vom facherformigen, medialen Sehnenschenkel des Schien- 
beinburgers (the tendon) seinen Anfang nimmt, sich von da auf die 
Gelenkkapsel und auf das Periost der unteren Abtheilung des Sprung- 
gelenks fortsetzt und eine chronische Entzundung der Synovial mem¬ 
brane mit Erweichung und Auflosung der Gelenk-knorpel und Ent- 
zund des Knochen-marks herbei fuhrt.” 
Our author then carefully considers the aetiology of spavin, taking 
notice of the development of the same by cattle ; the anatomy and 
physics of the tarsus ; and the relations of the ligaments and fascias 
surrounding and superior to the same. He gives careful consideration 
to hereditability of spavin, that is, to the disposition to it —for no sensi¬ 
ble man believes foals are born spavined ; to the constitutions favor¬ 
ing such development ; to the various deviations in formi of the tar¬ 
sus, etc. 
Following this we find a careful consideration of the development 
and pathological anatomy of this deformity. It would be interesting 
in this place to know, from microscopical study, how the osteoblostic 
layer of the periost deports itself in these processes ; or, in other 
words, which are first apparent, inflammatory processes in the tissues 
of the inner parietes of the bursa, or in the osteoblostic layer of the 
periost ? To my mind this is an open question which our author has 
not sufficiently answered, and the answering of it is the work of future 
investigations. 
The theories of spavin are carefully considered, and I have above 
called notice to our author’s ideas which are carefully drawn and ably 
supported by experiment and experience. Following on this we have 
a consideration of the diagnosis and prognosis, two sections of im¬ 
mense value to veterinarians and stock raisers, and considered with a 
fullness and exactness nowhere else to be found. 
The concluding section of the book is devoted to therapie, and our 
author favors us with a valuable and critical review of all plans of 
