ence of
some latent, morbid cause which has been unsuspectedly incubating. It is
not peculiar to any particular class of horses, nor to any special
season of the year, having fallen under our observation in each of the
four seasons.

_Symptoms._--The general fact is reported in the history of most cases
that it makes its appearance without premonition in animals which, after
enjoying a considerable period of rest, are first exercised or put to
work, though in point of fact it may manifest itself while the horse is
still idle in his stable. A hypothetical case, in illustration, will
explain our theory: An animal which has been at rest in his stable is
taken out to work, and it will be presently noticed that there is
something unusual in his movement. His gait is changed, and he travels
with short, mincing steps, without any of his accustomed ease and
freedom. This may continue until his return to the stable, and then,
after being placed in his stall, he will be noticed shifting his weight
from side to side and from one leg to another, continuing the movement
until rupture of the bony structure takes place. But it may happen that
the lameness in one or more of the extremities, anterior or posterior,
suddenly increases, and it becomes evident that the rupture has taken
place in consequence of a misstep or a stumble while the horse is at
work. Then, upon coming to a standstill, he will be found with one or
more of his toes turned up; he is unable to place the affected foot flat
on the ground. The fetlock has dropped and the leg rests upon this part,
the skin of which may have remained intact or may have been more or less
extensively lacerated. It seldom happens that more than one toe at a
time will turn up, yet still the lesion in one will be followed by its
occurrence in another. Commonly two feet, either the anterior or
posterior, are affected, and we recall one case in which the two fore
and one of the hind legs were included at the same time. The accident,
however, is quite as liable to happen while the horse is at rest in his
stall, and he may be found in the morning standing on his fetlocks. One
of the earliest of the cases occurring in my own experience had been
under care for several weeks for suspected disease of the fetlocks, the
nature of which had not been made out, when, apparently improved by the
treatment which he had undergone, the patient was taken out of the
stable to be walked a short distance into the co