10 METHODS OF ELUCIDATING DISEASE. 



appearance of the animal as to bulk and condition, nature of 

 work in which employed, character of food-supply, and loca- 

 tion. 



(2) History (a) of present illness, whether traceable to any 

 particular cause, its length of duration, whether acute or 

 chronic, whether increasing in intensity or the opposite. 

 (6) Previous state of health ; if subject to similar attacks or 

 any other disease ; if the ordinary functions of animal life are 

 correctly performed, (c) Endeavour to discover if, previous 

 to our inspection, treatment has been adopted, and of what 

 natuTe ; this we know is nearly always a necessary inquiry as 

 respects our patients. 



In all our interrogations much tact is requisite, particularly 

 when attempting to elucidate the causes which are often patent 

 enough, the attendants so frequently maintaining a careful 

 reserve, for fear they are criminated. Having obtained in this 

 way, by an intelligent and orderly questioning of the animal's 

 attendants, as much information as we may anticipate, we can, 

 by carrying out a systematic individual examination, disclose 

 objective phenomena, physical signs of disease, even more 

 reliable, when considered independently, than those obtained 

 by the former method. Here again method is essential, and 

 much assistance is obtainable from the use of particular in- 

 struments. 



In many acute diseases of the horse, the symptoms are so 

 quickly developed and so distinctly diagnostic, that all our 

 attention is at once directed to the region and organs from 

 which the disturbance proceeds ; otherwise, and in less pro- 

 nounced cases, although much may be learnt from general 

 observation, it is always preferable to make a systematic and 

 thorough examination. This, as already stated, is probably 

 more easily accomplished by dealing with the system regionally 

 and functionally. 



1. Of the Head and Cranial Region. — Although much may be 

 gathered from the character of the facial expression as a whole, 

 as well as from special central and peripheral indications, parti- 

 cularly when the cranial nerve-centres are disturbed, observa- 

 tion with our patients, and particularly the horse, settles at 

 once on the visible mucous membranes as a source from which 

 a large amount of information may be gained ; and probably, 



