eases usually called bog-spavin and thoroughpin, and strange it is that such names should still be retained among us.

BOG-SPAVIN, I think I may venture to assert, at all times consists of an increased secretion of synovia within the joint formed by the articulation of the tibia with the astragalus, and distending the capsular ligament; it may, therefore, more appropriately be termed "Hydrops Articuli."

THOROUGHPIN is only an enlarged synovial bursæ. Sometimes, however, it is found to communicate with the joint.

The distended capsular ligament at the inner and anterior part of the hock was considerably thickened; and, after dissecting off a dense outer fibrous layer, I found the inner surface of its walls to consist of an osseous structure in three separate pieces, one as large as half-a-crown, another the size of a shilling, and the third not larger than a sixpence. They were irregular in form, concave, and roughened on their inner surface, and convex on their outer one; forming, partly a bony, and partly a membranous cavity. The inner surface of the latter was studded with calcareous granules. Extending from one side of this cavity to the other, I found a projecting portion of bone, as large as an ordinary-sized quill, and about an inch and a half in length, slightly roughened on its surface; this I conceive to have been a band of lymph that had become ossified. The sac also contained coagulated synovia and bands of false membrane, forming together a mass of a dark brown colour. Upon the outer and anterior part of the hock, a superficial bursæ had become distended, and two similar osseous productions were observed on its walls. But in this specimen the most remarkable feature consisted in an enlarged bursæ situated between the upper and anterior part of the os calcis and the posterior and inferior part of the tibia communicating with the joint capsule, presenting a rounded appearance on either side as large as an orange, the walls of which were composed, three parts out of four, of bone. On one side there were four pieces of bone, and on the other five pieces, all of which were moveable. Upon laying open this sac, a considerable quantity of dark spurious synovia escaped. I then passed my finger into the opening, and detected a long piece of bone, extending nearly from one side to the other of the cavity, as large as my little finger, and two and

a half inches in length, being attached at one extremity to one of the larger pieces, which formed the outer part of the wall of the sac. All the bones of the hock were anchylosed, with the exception of the junction of the tibia with the astragalus.

ON CHRONIC HOOVE IN THE COW.

By Mr. W. Cox, M.R.C.V.S.

Dear Sir, Ashbourne, Nov. 8th, 1847. BE pleased to accept my thanks for your prompt reply to the questions I put to you with reference to the case of chronic hoove which was published in the July number of your excellent Periodical. According to your suggestion, I passed a probang down the œsophagus, but could not detect any stricture or mechanical obstruction interfering with the function of that organ. The medicinal compound recommended by you also failed to afford relief, and the patient gradually became more emaciated. For the last week or ten days I was obliged to keep the canula in the rumen, as, without this, the cow would have sunk much earlier. On the 16th of May I received a message from her owner, informing me that he had sold the animal, and that she would be killed early on the following morning. I attended, but the butcher failed to keep his appointment; and, as Mr. Hodkinson objected to my making a post-mortem examination without the person being present who had bought the cow, after waiting some time, I was obliged to depart. I, however, left instructions for the viscera to be carefully preserved for my inspection. On the following day I again called, and then found that the cow had been killed, and removed to Carsington, a few miles distant, without being opened. I rode over to the latter place, and had the mortification of finding the abdominal viscera cut to pieces and piled into a wheelbarrow. I examined these portions, but could not detect any disease, and the butcher informed me that every part appeared healthy. I have entered into these particulars for the purpose of shewing the

difficulty country practitioners often have to contend with in their endeavours to obtain an examination after death. I rode upwards of sixteen miles for this purpose, when I could ill afford to devote any time at all to it.

These cases of chronic hoove are very interesting, and their cause or causes being so obscure, I much regretted my inability to make a satisfactory autopsy. I incline to the opinion that partial paralysis of the rumen gives rise to these long-continued cases of functional derangement of that viscus, and hence the disengagement of gaseous compounds from the ingesta; it being well known that in our domesticated ruminants any cause which interferes with rumination will produce fermentation of the aliment, from its being exposed to both heat and moisture in the rumen.

Another case, somewhat similar, may not prove uninteresting to your readers.

The

In the month of April last, while attending some horses suffering from influenza, belonging to Mr. Gallimere, my attention was directed to a cow which had been unwell for some time. digestive organs were evidently affected, as the owner had observed that, during the greater part of the preceding winter, diarrhoea was often present, and sometimes the animal was hoven. Mr. G. had bled and administered purgative medicine several times to the patient.

At the time I examined her both tympanitis and diarrhoea existed; the pulse was iregular, but very weak; the coat was staring, and the skin deficient in pliability, usually called hidebound; the secretion of milk was lessened; the appetite impaired, and rumination suspended; the animal was emaciated, and presented a very dejected appearance. The treatment had recourse to consisted of the exhibition of diffusible stimulants and tonics; with the occasional use of ant-acids and astringents when the state of the digestive organs required such agents. Temporary relief followed these remedial measures; but after a time they ceased to be attended with any benefit; I therefore recommended the owner to have the cow killed; but she being insured, another practitioner was requested to see the case by the Inspector of the Cattle Insurance Society. Ultimately, however, the animal was destroyed, and the particulars of the post-mortem examination are given by

Mr. Leech, in the last number of THE RECORD; but the account I consider to be imperfect, as it does not explain the true cause of chronic tympanitis; for the state of the stomachs and the interior of the intestinal canal is not even alluded to.

To Mr. J. B. Simonds.

I am, &c.

P.S.-I have two cases, now under treatment, in which longcontinued tympanitis has been present: one is going on satisfactorily. Before long I will send you the particulars of a case of hemiplegia, and also one of erysipelas in cows: in the latter case the symptoms were ambiguous, and accompanied with great nervous excitement.

CASE OF CHRONIC PERICARDITIS IN A COLT.

By Mr. T. BARRELL, M.R.C.V.S.

To the Editors of "The Veterinary Record."

My dear Sirs,

BEING this morning called to see a filly affected with "surfeit,” my attention was directed to a colt then lying dead in the yard. On making some inquiries respecting it, the coachman informed me that he died suddenly on the previous evening. The history of the case was given by him as follows:

The colt was eighteen months old, thorough bred, and castrated last spring. He had been kept in a loose box on corn from the time of weaning till the last week in August, when both he and the filly were turned into a meadow, which was in a cold damp situation, and the grass rather scanty; consequently they became greatly impoverished. There they were allowed to remain till last week, when they were found, to use my informant's own words, "breaking out from head to foot, and hide bound." On this account they were housed, and pretty liberally dieted; the owner considering that this change of living would make them all right again. The colt fed well, and not the least illness was observed

up to the time of his death, except a slight swelling of the belly and sheath; in fact, he was in better condition than his companion. On the coachman's going to him last evening he was found lying down, and on causing him to rise, the breathing became very labored for a few minutes, when he suddenly fell, and died instantaneously.

I availed myself of this opportunity of making a post-mortem examination. The appearances presented were-belly and sheath œdematous. On laying open the cavity of the abdomen, a large quantity of serous fluid escaped. The viscera of the abdomen had a healthy appearance, except the liver, which was considerably enlarged, softened, and of a dark colour. The mesenteric glands were of the usual size, and the lacteals also. On opening the thorax, I was astonished at the enormously distended state of the pericardial sac, on making a section of which about six quarts of yellow turbid serous fluid escaped, in which floated several large flocculi of lymph. The pleuræ and lungs were slightly inflamed, and many patches of ecchymosis were visible on the pleura pulmonalis et p. costalis. The heart, &c. I have forwarded you; therefore it is unnecessary for me to give any description of these parts. This case is interesting, more especially so on account of the absence of the usual premonitory symptoms of this disease.

Keynsham, 17th Nov. 1847.

I am,

Your's, very truly.

[The lesions were doubtlessly the result of an attack of pericarditis, which had become chronic. Such cases are comparatively rare. The amount of fibrine thrown out over the heart was considerable, the false membrane being in places full half an inch in thickness. The substance of the heart was softened, but the lining membrane of the organ was unaffected. The pericardial sac itself was as extensively diseased as the membrane investing the heart. Such an effusion of lymph must necessarily have interfered with the functions of this all-important organ; but it would seem that the progress of disease had been most insidious.]