342 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



scrutiny for its discovery. The lameness may be well marked, and an 

 animal may show it but little while walking, though upon being 

 urged into a trot will manifest it more and more, until presently it 

 will cease to use the crippled limb altogether, and travel entirely 

 on three legs. The acute character of the lameness will vary in 

 degree as the seat of the lesion approximates the acetabulum. In 

 walking, the motion at the hip is very limited, and the leg is dragged; 

 while at rest it is relieved from bearing its share in sustaining the 

 body. An intelligent opinion and correct conclusion will depend 

 largely upon a knowledge of the history of the case, and while in 

 some instances that will be but a report of the common etiology of 

 fractures, such as blows, hurts, and other external violence, the 

 simple fact of a fall may furnish in a single word a satisfactory 

 solution of the whole matter. 



With the exception of the deformity of the ilium in a fracture of 

 its external angle, and unless there has been a serious laceration of 

 tissues and infiltration of blood, or excessive displacement, there are 

 no very definite external symptoms in a case of a fracture of the hip 

 bone. There is one, however, which, in a majority of cases, will not 

 fail — it is crepitation. This evidence is attainable by both external 

 and internal examination — by manipulation of the gluteal surface 

 and by rectal taxis. Very often a lateral motion, or balancing of the 

 hinder parts by pressing the body from one side to the other, will be 

 sufficient to render the crepitation more distinct — a slight sensation of 

 grating, which may be perceived e^'en through the thick coating of 

 muscle which covers the bone — and the sensation may not only be felt, 

 but to the expert may even become audible. This external manifesta- 

 tion is, however, not always sufficient in itself, and should invariably 

 be associated with the rectal taxis for corroboration. It is true that 

 this may fail to add to the evidence of fracture, but till then the 

 simple testimony afforded by the detection of crepitation from the 

 surface, though a strong confirmatory point, is scarcely sufficiently 

 absolute to establish more than a reasonable probability or strong 

 suspicion in the case. 



In addition to the fact that the rectal examination brings the ex- 

 ploring hand of the surgeon into near proximity to the desired point 

 of search, and to an accurate knowledge of the situation of parts, 

 both pro and con as respects his own views, there is another advan- 

 tage attendant upon it which is well entitled to appreciation. This is 

 the facility with which he can avail himself of the help of an assist- 

 ant, who can aid him by manipulating the implicated limb and 

 placing it in various positions, so far as the patient will permit, while 

 the surgeon himself is making explorations and studying the effect 

 from w^ithin. By this method he can hardly fail to ascertain the 

 character of the fracture and the condition of the bony ends. By 



