and drying, as exhibiting many peculiarities which were not apparent in their fresh state. "The ulceration of the articular surfaces, which seemed to be altogether confined to the cartilage of incrustation, was found on their removal to affect the bone beneath; and the loss of structure, however small it might be, in the cartilage, extended more or less deeply into the bone, the size of the cavity increasing with its depth. This fact, I think, proves beyond disputation that the loss of cartilage depended primarily upon the diseased condition of the bone, and that the general thinning of the cartilage arose from the same cause. Scarcely an articulation of the whole body was free from this worm-eaten' condition of both bone and cartilage. It was found, likewise, in cleaning the bones after maceration that, from their extreme softness, great care was necessary to prevent their different processes (epiphyses) from being detached, and the application of the slightest force to a portion of ligament or tendon that was not sufficiently separated by decomposition, would be certain to effect their removal. The external surfaces, also, of the bones, as contrasted with those in a normal condition, had a very singular aspect, especially in the flat and irregular bones. The ends of the long bones were similarly affected, but the shafts of them deviated but little in external appearance from a healthy state. A transverse section, however, of the middle of the shaft showed very distinctly that the osseous lamina surrounding the Haversian canals were very much thinner than is natural, thus necessarily leading to a considerable enlargement of the latter. In the first named, however, and in the flat bone, instead of the surface being smooth and dense, it had a character not very unlike a fine sponge. The foramina for the passage of the blood-vessels, and especially those belonging to the periosteal membrane, were much dilated, thus giving the bone a kind of honeycomb appearance.' From this excellent and interesting description, which we have quoted at such length, there can be no doubt as to the disease being osteo-malacia-an affection whose intimate nature has been so well illustrated in the pathological histology of Rindfleisch, and the writings of Virchow, Volkmann, Rokitansky, Forster, and others. In animals the disease is peculiar to youth-the period of growth and its causes are not yet well understood. Roloff, who has given us the best description of it in animals, and whose symptomatology of the malady is a model of conciseness and lucidity, is inclined to attribute it to a deficiency of the earthy salts in the food, or to a mal-assimilation of these in the body; he recommends local and general treatment, though he lays the greatest stress on hygienic measures. Mr. Williams abstains from recommending treatment of any kind. chapters devoted to diseases of the joints, lameness, tumours, wounds, the diseases and injuries of particular regions, &c. In speaking of lameness in the posterior extremity, no mention is made of the peculiar injury arising from rupture of one of the attachments which binds the external gastrocnemius tendon to the apex of the calcis, and which permits the tendon to slip to one side of that bone; but this is only one of a large number of omissions which are of more importance. When treating of disease of the feet we find a remarkable instance of confusion and muddle arising from an imperfect knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of these very important organs. Attempting to describe the pathology of the formidable malady of the horse's foot, which is located in or upon the lower face of the navicular bone, and which is technically designated "navicularthritis," Mr. Williams states that it is due to the rheumatoid diathesis and to concussion, and the liability to suffer from the first-named cause originates in hereditary predisposition and accidental circumstances." Elsewhere it is designated "rheumatoid bursitis." Now, it is a fact that the malady is very rarely, if ever, witnessed in slow-paced heavy draught horses, which are particularly liable to diseases of tendons, bones, and bursæ, but is almost special to fast-moving saddle or harness horses. It is also a disease of the fore feet, never the hind ones; and we must remember that the thoracic limbs of the horse are the chief sustainers of the weight of the body, and whatever additional weight may be imposed on the animal's back. Why should the rheumatoid diathesis so frequently manifest itself in this situation, and never in the hind feet? Such a convenient term to explain what cannot be comprehended, reminds one very much of the farrier and groom's tendency to localise the same malady in the shoulder. With these gentry, in fact, the cause of every lameness exists there, and we fear that the rheumatoid diathesis may become equally abused. The cause of this far too common and ruinous disease is to be found in the bad management to which horses' feet are exposed, and more particularly to the faulty—nay, cruel— way in which the majority of them are shod. By exposing a horse which has no trace of the rheumatoid diathesis to hard, fast work on artificial roads, and shod in the fashion so common now-a-days, we can almost produce the malady at will. The author is no more fortunate in his attempts to elucidate the pathology of the disease. He appears to believe it may commence in the interior of the bone, and indeed asserts that it does so. He evidently overlooks the fact, that until a very late stage of the malady-really the last-the under or posterior surface of the bone alone is involved; the upper or anterior becoming affected only when the whole piece is carious. If the disease originated in the cancellated tissue of the bone, why should one surface only be constantly affected? Another matter he strangely does not take into consideration; and that is the circumstance that the cartilage which covers the upper surface is an articular or hyaline cartilage, while that on the lower face is fibro-cartilage-as may easily be seen by the naked eye in a fresh specimen-whose fasciculi of fibrous tissue are intimately blended with, and, indeed, assist in forming, the ligaments which attach this bone to the os pedis. The mistake is all the more marked by Mr. Williams giving three drawings, after Redfern, representing the changes occurring in hyaline cartilage, to show the morbid alterations taking place in navicularthritis. An acquaintance with the anatomy of this region would surely have preserved him from such a palpable blunder. He need not have invoked the rheumatoid diathesis to account for the presence of the malady, when he had already noticed that "race-horses, so long as they are shod with racing shoes, rarely suffer from navicular disease. The pace with them tells upon the column of weight-bearing bones and upon the ligaments and tendons, but when put to harness-work in carts, omnibuses, &c., and shod with a thick shoe, they soon become unsound." Surely the thick shoe does not induce this hypothetical diathesis. Concussion is another of the favorite terms employed to account for the disorder; but it is no more satisfactory or reasonable than the diathesis, as no bone is better protected from concussion than this sesamoid. The truth is that, as in so many other instances in surgery, a fair knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the organ would lead to a clear and correct idea of pathological processes, and indicate with a much greater amount of certainty than is exhibited in this work the causes in operation to bring about such definite changes. We are cognisant of numerous cases in which the disease has been produced in young horses during a gallop over uneven ground. There is nothing extraordinary in this; indeed, casually glancing at the disposition of the structures within the hoof, we can scarcely expect them to be any more exempted from injury than the same structures in other regions of the limb; and if we consider that the great flexor tendon plays over this bone at a greater mechanical disadvantage than perhaps anywhere else, and that this disadvantage is immensely exaggerated by the vicious manner in which the foot is generally treated by the farrier, our only wonder is that the disease is not more common. This instance, from among many which are afforded by Mr. Williams's book, will suffice to indicate the necessity there is of greater attention being paid to the anatomy and physiology of the domestic animals, and instead of a few months' loitering in the dissecting-room, cutting up they don't know what, veterinary students should have a thorough knowledge of these subjects. Their reputation as men of science, and their success in life, mainly depends upon it; while the value of the property entrusted to their care renders it absolutely necessary that the public should possess a sure guarantee that they do possess this knowledge. The directions for treating the disease of the foot-membranes, vulgarly termed "canker," are good; but the author is scarcely justified, from our experience of the affection, in stating that "when the laminæ are involved the case may be generally looked upon as hopeless." We have seen such cases make a good recovery. In describing the diseases of the generative organs, Mr. Williams is silent with respect to the existence of a contagious affection of the equine species, which, now that we are importing horses in such large numbers from the continent, may only too soon find its way into our studs. This malady, which has 'received a number of names-such as the épizootie chancreuse, maladie du coit, typhus vénérien, syphilis du cheval, maladie vénérienne by the French veterinarians, and the beschälkrankheit, lähmungskrankheit, and bösartige chankerkrankheit of the Germans-was unknown, it appears, before 1796, when Ammon observed it in North Prussia. It was believed, however, to have been seen in Russia before that period, and Renner, who thought it originated in that country, witnessed its effects in the Imperial stud. It always prevails with most severity in Southern Russia. Since it was first observed by veterinarians, it has spread to various parts of Prussia (though from its contagious character being now fully ascertained, its ravages have lately been promptly checked by legislative measures), Hanover, Bohemia, Hungary, Pomerania, Silesia, Styria, Switzerland, Wurtemberg, and France, becoming enzoötic in several regions where it has been allowed to prevail unhindered. Since the French occupation of Algiers it has shown itself in that country, and the Arabs, who designate it "El dourine," maintain that it was introduced by their invaders. The symptoms are at first local, and not unlike those of human syphilis; the secondary effects are characterised by cutaneous eruptions, nervous derangement, paralysis, and a lingering death. Surely such a serious and interesting disease merited some notice. Our review of this work has greatly exceeded the limits we had assigned to it, and nothing but the importance and attractiveness of the topic could excuse the length to which our remarks have carried us. We are deeply impressed with the value of the facts which comparative pathology may furnish to the science of medicine, and in taking leave of Mr. Williams's book we have to express our sincere regret that he has not done more justice to his subject. The many excellent treatises which have appeared in Germany, France, and other countries have not been utilised; neither has the immense mass of facts accumulated in the various continental journals devoted to veterinary science been made in the slightest degree available. This neglect has operated most prejudicially in the compilation of his work, which gives us but a poor idea of the advance veterinary pathology and surgery has made in recent years. It is sadly lacking in originality, and about one half the book is made up of quotations from medical authorities whose writings have for years occupied our book-shelves. This is most unsatisfactory and disappointing. A little discernment, a moderate amount of ability, and a slight acquaintance with veterinary literature, must have provided us with a treatise which would have interested medical practitioners, extended our knowledge of many subjects connected with animal diseases, and proved a boon no. less to the veterinary surgeon than to the agricultural and horse-loving public. We can but repeat that the volume is a step forward; it will not mark an epoch. VII.-Army Hygiene in France.1 "It is easy," said Marshal Bugeaud, "taking troops to fire, but difficult to maintain and preserve them there." To preserve them in health and take charge of them when struck down by sickness or wounds are among the duties of the army surgeon, but, as indicated very clearly in the works we have quoted in connection with this article, these duties involve conditions the nature of which is in many respects unfamiliar to the professional man in civil life; army hygiene is, in fact, a speciality. Thus, heretical' as the observation may seem to many, the scientific hygienists of the schools would find their science, if unaided by practical knowledge of military requirements and conditions, of but little, if any use, with an army actively employed. The 1. Traité de Chirurgie d'Armée, par L. Legouest. Paris. 2. Le Chirurgie Militaire, par LEON LE FORT. Paris. 3. La Mortalité dans l'Armée, par LE Dr. J. C. CHENU. Paris. |