Symptomatology . Semeiology. 19 



gait. Tli2 fact that the veterinarian is restricted to objective 

 symptoms renders his task a specially difficult one, yet this has its 

 compensation, as this very restriction tends to train the observant 

 practitioner to greater skill. 



5. Direct Symptoms (idiopathic) are those which are con- 

 nected with the seat of disease, as the redness, exudation, and 

 swelling of inflammation. 



6. Indirect (sympathetic, dependent) Symptoms are ob- 

 servable at a distance from the actual disease : — as when headache 

 attends on dyspepsia, or lameness in the right shoulder upon dis- 

 ease of the liver. 



7. Premonitory or precursory symptoms precede the diag- 

 nostic symptoms of some diseases, thus dullness and languor 

 often heralds an approaching fever, and the strangles of young 

 horses is often preceded by a general unthrifty appearance, poor 

 appetite and indisposition to exertion. 



In observing symptoms as in other things, some have far greater 

 natural ability than others, but in all a careful training will do 

 much to develop and improve the power and habit. A most im- 

 portant thing in such habits is the strict maintenance of a system, 

 not to be followed as a cast iron rule but to be constantly kept in 

 mind and .strictly carried out except when sound judgement and 

 experience show it to be unnecessary. 



Anamnesis. As a rule the first thing to be learned about a 

 patient is his history, and personal and hereditary characteristics. 

 What are his general health, temperament, previous attacks, 

 hereditary predisposition, environment ? Is the site of the build- 

 ing, its condition as regards soil, springs, drainage, structure, 

 ventilation, light, cleanliness such as would favor any particular 

 disorder or class of disorder? Is the patient in high, low, or 

 moderate condition, robust or debilitated, alert and lively or dull 

 and stupid ? Have other animals suffered recently, or at a cor- 

 responding season, or under similar conditions in apparently the 

 same manner? How long has the patient suffered, were there 

 any premonitory indications of illness, what were the first symp- 

 toms, and what symptoms have followed up to the present ? 

 Has there been any change of food, water or management that 

 might throw light on the cause ? Has there been any change of 

 weather or unwonted exposure to cold, storm, overwork, com- 



