vitality. In Mr. Barrow's case the pressure was endured till the growth of the tumour positively compressed the nerves; and in it we must remember relief was afforded twice by treatment, though in neither instance can we believe the means had recourse to retarded the growth of the tumour. In the case of cerebral abscess which I have just related, the pressure was of secondary importance; the spread of inflammation consequent on the suppurative action producing phrenitic symptoms in their most active and violent form.

My dear Sir,

6. A CASE OF DISEASED HOCK.

By Mr. J. TOMBS.

Pershore, Sept. 10th, 1844.

I HAVE sent per rail-road the off hock of a half-bred mare. It was kicked on the outside about a month ago; and there has been a copious discharge of synovia ever since. The usual remedies were resorted to, which proved ineffectual. The hock being so extensively diseased, I considered it advisable to have the animal destroyed. I have forwarded the diseased specimen, thinking it might be serviceable to some of the junior members of the Association.

To Mr. W. J. T. Morton.

I am, dear Sir,

Your's very truly.

This morbid specimen having been examined by Mr. Mayhew, he found a small opening on the exterior surface of the joint, from which there was an exudation of laudable pus. The hock was much swollen, and, on removing the skin, an extensive patch (about the size of the palm of the hand) of inflammation was observed. This patch of inflammation was of a dark colour, loose and fibrous, presenting an appearance of having contained fluid, but none was present: around this part, running between and beneath the tendon and ligaments, was a considerable quantity of

laudable pus, which, however, seemed to take no definite direction, but appeared to be indiscriminately distributed over nearly the entire joint. After the removal of the skin, the bone could be plainly felt by the probe being passed down the tube of the external orifice.

On cutting into the superior synovial sac, a large quantity of dark-coloured opaque fluid escaped; and the internal surface of the membrane was discoloured, inflamed, and in places had begun to granulate. The cartilage on the tibia and astragalus was in some parts absorbed, in others ulcerated, while in some parts it was discoloured, and shewed the inflamed bone beneath it. No fracture could be detected.

Sir,

7.-CASE OF RUPTURED RECTUM.

By Mr. J. Woodger.

Paddington, Aug. 25, 1844.

I HAVE sent some morbid parts, with the history of a case which I think may not be uninteresting to the members of the Veterinary Association. It is that of a ruptured rectum, which, as you perceive, was caused by a part of an oat-hair calculus that had become separated from the remaining portion lodged in the colon, and, having passed on to this intestine, it became impacted there until rupture ensued, which I think was caused by the animal's suddenly falling down.

The subject from which it was taken was an aged chestnut horse. He was brought at three o'clock, P.M., on Friday afternoon last, to my infirmary. The symptoms then present were those generally exhibited in spasmodic colic. He was attacked at seven o'clock, A.M.; but the owner neglected to send for medical assistance until the above period. Not the least hope of my patient recovering was entertained by me when I first saw him, and he died three hours after he was admitted.

Post-mortem appearances. — The abdomen was nearly full of dark-coloured fluid, which had escaped from the rupture in the

rectum, caused as I have already stated. The other portion of the calculus I found in the colon: the peritoneum, and nearly the whole of the large intestines, presented a very intense degree of inflammation.

I am, Sir,

Your humble servant.

COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS.

CASE OF OSSIFICATION OF THE CEREBELLUM OF A HORSE.

By PROFESSOR SEWELL.

In the museums of the universities of Milan in Italy, and Upsal in Sweden, and in the possession of a private individual in this country, to which publicity has been given in an early number of the Proceedings of the Veterinary Medical Association, are specimens of ossified brains of oxen; at least these morbid growths are so designated. They appear to me to be osseous tumours proceeding from the inner table of the skull, and, as the brain is displaced by them, so they fill up the cranial cavity. The present case is altogether dissimilar to these, and it occurred in the horse. The preparation was sent to me, several years since, by Mr. Child, V.S., when he was residing near High Wycombe.

The entire brain was forwarded; but the cerebrum and medulla oblongata were so much crushed that not any thing definite was observable, except what appeared to be granules of ossific depositions pervading their structure. The cerebellum, however, was solid; thus it preserved its form, and so dense was it, that it had been sawn through into two nearly equal portions. These have been carefully preserved by me; for I believe the specimen to be unique in this country, a similar one not being found in the museums of the college of physicians or of surgeons.

The history of the case, which accompanied the preparation, is briefly this :-The horse was observed to be extremely lethargic and inactive for some weeks, when he was placed under the care of a country practitioner. The treatment had recourse to is not

known; but the symptoms continued to increase in urgency until they indicated phrenitis. The animal appeared to be almost blind, and when moving about he would unconsciously strike his head against the walls of the place in which he was. Ultimately, he became perfectly comatose; then paralysis of the posterior half of the body and limbs supervened, which was followed by delirium and death.

It was considered a case of what is termed "mad staggers" by the older practitioners, but not of an ordinary character, on account of the length of time intervening between the commencement and termination of the disease. This led to an examination post-mortem, when the brain was found to have undergone the peculiar change already stated. Unfortunately it was removed by a person unaccustomed to anatomical investigations; it was therefore roughly handled, and, being shewn to Mr. Child as a curiosity, he obtained it, and kindly transmitted it to me.

Having forwarded a small portion of the abnormal deposit to Dr. Prout, I am indebted to him for the following communication::

Sackville-street, 24th Oct., 1844.

Dear Sir, I have examined the small fragment of the tumour you sent me, and find the earthy portion of the mass (amounting to about one-half of the whole by estimation) to consist of bone earth, or phosphate of lime. The rest is animal matter, to which I cannot venture to give a name, except that a small portion of it appears to be fat. When burnt, the earthy matter retained the shape of the original fragment, and, on examination with a magnifier, appeared to have a structure somewhat analogous to bone.

To W. Sewell, Esq.

I remain, dear Sir,

Your's very truly,

WM. PROUT.

This case appearing to us to be one of considerable interest, as well as one of most unusual occurrence, we have been induced to solicit Mr. Erasmus Wilson to subject a portion of the cere

bellum to microscopical examination; which he has most obligingly done, and, in addition, he has given us drawings of the same, which we have made a part of the engraved plate, and to which, with the explanations, we refer our readers. (See plate, fig. 3.) In reference to the structure of the cerebral tumour, Mr. Wilson remarks, "I think it not unlikely that the cells represented in figure 3 are nerve cells, with altered contents. The tumour offered some little resistance to the knife, and when dried was brittle and light. In order to ascertain the nature and proportion of the calcareous matter contained in the cells, I requested my friend, Mr. Charles Swaisland, to submit a portion of it to chemical analysis, and he finds it to consist of

CASE OF LARGE CYSTIC CALCULUS VOIDED ENTIRE BY A MARE.

By Mr. J. R. JACKSON.

52, Coleshill-street, Eaton-square, 17th Oct., 1844.

Sir,-PERMIT me to present to the museum of the Royal Veterinary College the accompanying urinary calculus, which was some years since voided by a beautiful mare in my presence.

The mare had been ill for some time, and passed her urine with pain and difficulty. Being one day in the stable with her owner, we were witnesses to the violent efforts of the poor animal, whose straining was painful to behold: after waiting two or three minutes, out flew a calculus, striking the stable door with some force. Its exit was followed by a very copious discharge of urine and blood. It is needless to add, that the mare almost immediately after got well. I kept the calculus, and, although it was repeatedly washed, worms continued to be engendered on its surface for a long time. At last it dried thoroughly, since which it has lost