tion of the sole going on from its external surface, we get a time when a rupture of the part results. A distant result is that there being now no support for the ospedis at its anterior aspect, the entire pressure comes on the coronary cushion, the undue pressure of the chamber at the superior border of the wall causes also a diminution of the horn-secreting power of this part, and then occurs sloughing of the hoof, or the "breaking down" of laminitis.

In the first stage of inflammation of these different parts, there must be over activity of the horn-secreting membrane; this gives a greater cell proliferation, and the villi, under such circmstances, being more vascular, red blood corpuscles are plentifully transuded among the horn (cells, and therefore in each portion of horn affected during the different stages of laminitis, we have the coloring matter of the blood more abundant, and with the very rapid formation going on, the horn is red in appearance, that color being deeper near the source of nutrition. Therefore, from the presence of a red color, it does not follow that we have had a rupture of blood vessels. If such had been the case the hornsecreting power of the membrane, instead of being increased, would be more likely to be destroyed. Death of this power is well marked, however, in the later stages of this disease.

All that is here stated in regard to laminitis occurs first at the most vascular part of the podophyllous tissue, namely, at the toe (where lie the hardest and strongest internal and external structures); it may then spread to the surrounding parts by contiguity,

et cetera.

The part affected in "corn," is also the most vascular in the region of the heels, which is likewise pressed by the strong unyielding horn of the heel where it bends abruptly on itself, intensifying the pressure when inflammation of the internal parts exists with the same consequences, if the pressure be continued, that we get in the breaking down of laminitis, though in a less degree, owing to the difference in position of the laminae themselves, and a difference of the structures within. The causes which bring about inflammation of these vascular laminae of the heels are various. I know shoeing may be one, by indirectly acting on the part through a resulting contraction of the heels.

Then long rest, as well as the contrary, inordinate action from overwork, finally inflammation of the cartilages, may be communicated to the vascular structure. These structures are well known to be the seat of insidious inflammation through local as well as constitutional influences.

There is another and a more important case, viz., the contraction of the butress of the heel in a longitudinal direction, that is from above, downwards and forwards, bringing the inferior border of the inflection more under the suberincumbent weight of the body, than is natural. It is this that produces the much to be dreaded continued pressure on the laminae here situated.

Cases so produced are termed, "incurable corn," sometimes they are called "soft corns," and at others, "hollow corns," "gravel in the heels," and so on. The continued pressure produced in the manner related, destroys the growth of horn derived from the pedophylous tissue of the heels, and in the first stages we find the linar alba soft, or weakened, and if pressed upon by sand or grit, at its union with the sole, it will give way easily. This latter fact has given rise to the designation "gravel in the heels," and may progress to what is called "suppurating corn."

There is often seen, on paring the diseased part down, open spaces with probably a small amount of serous fluid; these open spaces are the spaces between the lamina left by the non-secretion of horn. Death of this part may now go on until there is a necrotic space large enough to admit of turning the point of the search knife, without touching any substance; and yet no pus has at any time existed in the cavity. At other times there is chronic inflammation, with probably necrosis of cartilage, and resulting deformity. In the majority of cases, this comes from the extreme paring resorted to by those in charge, and which I previously referred to, and which cannot be sufficiently condemned.

No sane man will pare a hoof to excess, nor dig through the sole to eradicate corn, unless there be pus in the part.

Paring thin has more than one undesirable sequel. All pared horn contracts on the surface pared; this causes it to arch in the opposite direction; the contraction is caused by loss of moisture, and can be readily demonstrated, whether the horn be dead horn

.

of the foot, or live horn on it; the latter by every day experience. Then the paring of the entire sole would cause contraction of its external surface; this would draw the inferior border of the wall inward, and at the same time arch the sole in its center, thereby pushing its internal or upper surface against the living tissues within, and if not at once giving deformity, will be sure to produce evils of another and worse sort—that is, death of the secreting structure, or pressure on the navicular articulation.

Broken bar" is the common term for the unhealthy secretion of horn in the middle portion of the bar; this is more generally due to overgrowth than to over paring but it is when the heels contract abruptly at their most posterior portion, that we have caused a greater deflection of the bar.

The deflection acts in such a manner as to send the middle portion of the bar upward and outward, causing undue pressure on the living structures, between it and the retrossal process of the ospedis, with irritative inflammation, death of the horn secreting power of the part corresponding to the same phenomenon noticed in laminitis and "corn," but more narrowly localized, causing it, when opening at the external surface, to look like the puncture from a nail, and such an opening, in reality due to a deep seated disorder, is disposed of by some sapient diagnostician with the phrase, “picked up a nail or wire."

In a proper study of the changes which occur in these diseases, their effect on the horn covering and mechanism of the foot may be found a key to their rational treatment, which subject I shall take up in the next number of the ARCHIVES.

NEW YORK, 416 EAST 14TH Street.

ART. IX.-CASTRATION OF THE DOG-ITS DESIRABILITY AS A MEANS OF CHECKING

TH

THE SHEEP-KILLING AND

OTHER

EVIL PROPENSITIES OF THE

SPECIES.

BY ALEXANDER HADDEN, M. D., N. Y.

'HE raids made by dogs upon sheep and other defenceless domestic animals, such as fowls, have been so frequent, and the consequent destruction of property throughout the United States alone has been so great, that almost every means that could be thought of to prevent them and still retain this useful animal as a part of the household has been devised and put into practice, but, as yet, with only partial success.

The chief preventives hitherto employed have been the following: The destruction from time to time of the animals themselves; the assessment of damages upon the owner of the culprit ; the levying of a tax upon dogs, the revenue arising from which to be applied to the liquidation of all damages resulting from these raids; the breeding and employment of certain varieties of the species—namely, such as might be thought to be less prone to offend in the manner indicated, in preference to other varieties more likely to offend.

As the statistics show, none of these expedients, nor all of them together, have yet been found effectual in preventing the evil. The Commissioner of Agriculture, in his report for the year 1865, makes the following startling statement in regard to the ravages of dogs upon sheep in the United States; and this, too, comprises only the returns from 373 counties of 23 States. Number of sheep killed in that year, 77,854. From this he estimates the whole number of sheep killed by dogs in the United States during the same period at, in round numbers, no less than 500,000 head, and the loss to the growers at $2,000,000. Since

1865 no reports have been made, but there is good reason to believe that the ravages since then, and the consequent pecuniary loss, annually, have been no less.

The offence alluded to is about the only one of any consequence with which the dog, the companion and friend of man, is justly chargeable. And it is not upon sheep alone, but also upon calves, and even upon the fowls of the barnyard, that he makes his sallies. All this, of course, helps to swell the aggregate of the enormous loss entailed. To prevent this, if possible; to remove or subdue this objectionable trait in his character—a vice, and which, indeed, seems to be almost the only remaining vice pertaining to his wild state-and to more thoroughly domesticate the animal, should now be our aim. In order to accomplish an end so desirable the most fully and completely, we venbure to suggest that no method that can be devised will do this more effectively than castration: castrating the males and spaying the females of all such as are allowed to run at large.

Upon inquiring into the matter, we find that dogs are not driven to undertake these raids by hunger or by any other such uncontrollable propensity or desire, but are actuated wholly by a spirit of mischief, which seems to be an incidental remnant of their wild state. Furthermore, we discover that the dog never goes upon one of these raids alone. He always seeks a companion of his own species, and sometimes the animals go in packs. It is noticeable that these raids are almost invariably preceded by the intimate association of neighboring dogs.

Castration produces a change-if we may be allowed the expression in the moral character of the animal. The objects

of his attachment are now different. Whereas, before, he wandered from home, seeking the companionship of others of his kind; now, he becomes more firmly attached to his home, and more dependent than ever upon his master.

I put this method-that of castration-into practice about six years ago, and have always suggested and advocated its employment. The animal then operated upon was a watch-dog, and only a mongrel pup. He did not grow fat and sluggish, as all authors writing upon the subject state that castrati will do,