20 Veteriyiary Medicine. 



pulsory abstinence or enforced retention of some secretion ? If 

 a female is she pregnant ? 



Having exhausted this method, using such Hues of inquiry as 

 promise good results in the particular case, the veterinarian is 

 prepared to bring his own powers of observation to bear more 

 directly. 



Position and movements will often furnish valuable data. 

 The horse which lies on his ribs, stands obstinately in chest 

 diseases, or whenever there is much interference with breathing. 

 The ruminants and carnivora on the other hand which lie on 

 their smooth or padded sternum, can breath with comfort in this 

 position and only stand up persistently in the worst cases. The 

 habit of .standing day and night is also characteristic of anchylosed 

 back or loins in the solipede. Roached back may be natural, or 

 the result of overwork and slight sprains or injuries of the loins, 

 of anchylosis, of intestinal or renal inflammation, or of certain 

 injuries to the limbs. The extension of the head on the neck 

 may suggest sore throat, chest disea.se, tumors around the throat, 

 abscess (fistula) of the pole, sprain or .spasm of the extensors of 

 the neck, disease of the axoido-atloid joint, tetamus, or cervical 

 rheumati.sm. Dropping of head and neck might suggest paresis, 

 mechanical injury to the levator muscles or cervical ligament, ex- 

 treme debility, or prostration from a profoundly depressing fever or 

 poisoning. Inability or indisposition to back, might indicate 

 sprain or fracture of the back, anchylosis, laceration of the sub- 

 lumbar muscles, paresis, cerebral or spinal inflammation, soften- 

 ing or other lesion, tetanus, laminitis, dislocated patella and 

 certain other affections. Swaying or unsteadiness in walking 

 or turning would similarly .suggest .sprain or fracture of the back, 

 paresis and other nervous and locomotor injuries. The soli- 

 pede with peritonitis arches the back and draws the hind feet 

 forward under the belly, with impacted colon or obstruction to 

 urination he will often stretch with fore limbs advanced and 

 hiud limbs retracted. The mode of decubitus may be significant. 

 With peritonitis, enteritis, metritis or acute nephritis or hepatitis 

 the solipede lies down slowly and with caution : with spasmodic 

 colic he throws him.self down as if reckless of possible injury. 

 Lying well up on the costal cartilages and .side of the breast bone 

 suggests a slight affection of the air passages ; lying on the side, 



