Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-31


We find the following interesting report of
one of Prof Noah Cressy's familiar lectures,
delivered at the meeting of the Connecticut
board of agriculture at New Britain, in the
Connecticut Farmer:
Promising that nowhere are facts more es-
sential than in medicine, and critcising by
potheses as in contra distinction to facts, DIR.
Greasy stated that nowhere in the whole field
of veterinary science was there more occasion
for watchfuness in this matter than in the
lameness of animals. Proceeding to anatom-
ical demonstration, he asserted that a mans
hand and hogs foot were The same, except
the thumb. Illustrating with the bone of
horses fore leg from the fetlock Joint down,
he showed its analogy to the human finger,
the fetlock joint being simply a knuckle, the
horses knee corresponding to the human
wrist, the splint bones remaining to indicate
how the horse had descended from the three
toed animal whose remains biologists have
found in the early formations.
Taking up ringbone first DIR. Greasy re-
marked that the readers of the Farmer already
knew more about it than he should tell them
that evening, but demonstrated its growth
and character by numerous specimens, show
ing the exostosis or bony formation about the
joints. The sooner. in such IA case the Joints
are grown together, the better. The manner
of burning and blstering by which this is
accomplished was described somewhat in de-
tail horse with such a ringbone won q
$4,000 race at Baltimore The upper and low
er pastern bones are especially liable to dis
ease.
Passing to the hind leg, the professor dis
cussed spavin-the kindred disease to ring
bone. To comprehend the mechanism of the
horses hind foot, the human foot must be
raised upon the toe. 1t is naturally supposed
that the hook joint, tho one affected by spav-
in, corresponds to the human knee. This is
fallacy. The real knee joint, known as the
stife, is the one above. There are thousands
of spavins that make horse dead lame, but
can neither be seen nor felt, death alone show
ing the fact of the ossiied joint In other
cases nothing more can be detected than a
failure of symmetry Of motion. We feel that
the horse does not step right, but cannot see
any trouble. SPAWN results in the growing
together of sometimes two, sometimes the
four bones of the tarsus. This class of dis
eases is largely due to the animals pulling
heavy loads, the straining of the ligaments
producing the inflammation of the synovial
membrane which results in oXostosis.
Splint lameness came in next for discussion
An ailment that often shows itself only in
trotting, the horse very rarely showing signs
of it when walking or running. 1t is no
disadvantage to horse to have splint grown
on kindly"
Hip-joint laneness DR.. Greasy pronounced
comparatively rare. He had not known of a
case in person, or through any of his friends,
for ten years. The joint is overlad with such
depth of muscle and Il ISL that it is exceed
ingy difficult to deal with, and it is favoriIe
plan with quacks to ascribe any lameness
which they cannot understand to a disease of
the hip joint
Longitudinal fracture of the upper pastern
joint was illustrated by a specimen taken from
horse owned by E. G. Wheaton, Il Hartford
livery man.
Acute founder must be- taken in hand
promptly to be cured, but anywhere within
ten miles of Hartford, if he could see the
case within 30 hours, the professor woulC
guarantee cure or no pay.
horses skull gave a very interesting illus
tration of disease of the jaw, by which the
animal died of starvation from inability tC
feed. An under tooth wore out the cores
ponding upper one, and by its prolongatioI
wore through the jaw. Another skull showed
a remarkable swelling-called by some "bil
head" but the result of an liberated tooth
From this there was a copious nasal dscharg,
similar in appearance to that resulting from
CHAMBERS.
Numerous hair-balls and bezoar stones, tax
en- from the stomach and bowels of differen
animals, were exhibited.
Then came running fire of questions
scores of the audience being anxious to TAX
IL hand, either to find out moro fully concern
lug points already touched upon, or abou
others not brought out. One on contracted
hoof, or navicular leUleness, called out the re
spouse that more horses were lame in the for
ward foot from this than from almost any 9th
er cause. The horse affected with it will no
set his foot down squarely, and the muscle
of the chest become shrunken, giving it tn
misnomer of chest-founder. 1t is caused b
severe strain or stepping on stones. With
the first six months it can generally be cure
by the application of frog seton, Acut
founder settling of the blood between tn
ootfin-bone and hoof-or under the nails a
We should SAYS due largely to exposure q
an animal after hard driving. The foot shout
be at once soaked in warm water and pou
ticed with rye bran, after which the surplu
blood should be drawn off, though in YER
mild cases the latter may not be necessary
Unless taken within 80 or 80 hours, there
no absolute cure for founder.
Bog SPAWN windgalls and eurbs were aske
about aud answered; then came question d
to blind fouls, What is called a blind fou
said Dr. Greasy, is the same as a felon on th
finger. 1t must be poultced and anced, OF
II left too long, must be treated as a morbi
sore To the question whether fouls wei
contagious, the speaker quoted approvingl
Secretary Colds remark that If they were ne
contagious they were catching, Where shee
are affected with it, matter oozes out upon I'll