ARTERIAL THROMBOSIS. 949 



muscles of the hindquarters, and, if the animals be worked, epilepti- 

 form convulsions of the entire body. Though the rest of the body 

 is bathed in sweat, the affected region remains dry and cold. 

 Sometimes even during rest the limb seems colder than its neighbour. 

 Rectal exploration is valuable in suspected cases of aortic or iliac 

 obstruction. 



Stallions are sometimes unable to copulate. Moller saw one in 

 which erections occurred, but were not followed by ejaculation of 

 semen. The post-mortem of such animals shows emphysema of 

 the lungs, with hypertrophy and dilatation of the heart. 



According to Terrillon's observations on men suffering from this 

 disease, the attack is accompanied by a feeling of painful stiffness and 

 severe burning. In recent cases, animals evince pain by lifting the 

 limb when standing at rest ; soon after, lameness becomes apparent. 

 Moller once saw a primary attack of embolism. The symptoms 

 were severe dyspnoea, laboured action of the heart, frequent pulse, 

 and cramp in the affected muscles. 



The prognosis depends on the degree of interference with movement, 

 but the tendency is always towards aggravation of symptoms, not 

 towards improvement, and only in slight cases can the development 

 of an efficient collateral supply and recovery be looked for. Of 

 eleven army horses affected during the year 1891 with thrombosis 

 of the aorta, of its branches, or of the brachial artery, only one 

 recovered. 



Treatment. The solution or removal of the thrombus is 

 impracticable, and internal remedies, like potassium iodide and the 

 alkaline carbonates which were formerly recommended, are of little 

 or no value. Massage is dangerous. Though the thrombus may be 

 loosened by manipulating the vessel through the rectum, further 

 coagulation readily occurs, and a case thus treated died next night 

 in consequence, the post-mortem showing complete thrombosis of 

 the posterior aorta with fresh clots. The only treatment of value 

 consists in exciting collateral circulation by regular work. The 

 animal is exercised until the first symptoms of lameness appear, 

 and then rested, or it may be put to continued light work. The 

 increased blood circulation thus excited favours development of 

 collateral circulation, but too much is not to be expected from this 

 treatment. 



