24 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



in t3'mpanic colic. The abdomen becomes small and the horse is said 

 to be "tucked up" from long-continued poor appetite, as in diseases 

 of the digestive tract and in fever. This condition also occurs in 

 tetanus from the contraction of the abdominal walls and in diarrhea 

 from emptiness. 



In applying the ear to the flank, on either the right or left side, 

 certain bubbling sounds ma}^ be heard that are known as peristaltic 

 sounds, because thej' arc produced by peristalsis, or worm-like con- 

 traction of the intestines. These sounds are a little louder on the 

 right side than on the left on account of the fact that the large intes- 

 tines lie in the right flank. Absence of peristaltic sounds is always an 

 indication of disease, and suggests exhaustion or paralysis of the intes- 

 tines. This ma}" occur in certain kinds of colic and is an unfavorable 

 symptom. Increased sounds are heard where the intestines are con- 

 tracted more violently than in health, as in spasmodic colic, and also 

 where there is an excess of fluid or gas in the intestinal canal. 



The feces show, to a certain extent, the thoroughness of digestion. 

 They should show that the food has been well ground, and should, in 

 the horse, be free from offensive odor or coatings of mucus. A coat- 

 ing of mucus shows intestinal catarrh. Blood on the feces indicates 

 severe inflammation. Very light color and bad odor may come from 

 inactive liver. Parasites are sometimes in the dung. 



Rectal examination consists in examination of the organs of the 

 pelvic cavity and posterior portion of the abdominal cavity b}' the 

 hand inserted into the rectum. This examination should be attempted 

 by a veterinarian only, and is useless except to one who has a good 

 knowledge of the anatomy of the parts concerned. 



THE EXAMINATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, 



The great brain, or cerebrum, is the seat of intelligence, and it con- 

 tains the centers that control motion in many parts of the bod3\ 

 The front portion of the brain is believed to be the region that is most 

 important in governing the intelligence. The central and posterior 

 portions of the cerebrum contain the centers for the voluntary motions 

 of the face and of the front and hind legs. The growth of a tumor or 

 an inflammator}" change in the region of a center governing the motion 

 of a certain part of the body has the effect of disturbing motion in 

 that part by causing excessive contraction known as cramps, or 

 inal)ility of the muscles to contract, constituting the condition known 

 as paralysis. The nerve paths from the cerebrum, and hence from 

 these centers to the spinal cord and thence to the muscles, pass beneath 

 the small brain, or the cerebellum, and through the medulla oblongat^i 

 to the spinal cord. Interference with these paths has the effect of 

 disturbing motion of the parts reached by them. If all of the paths 



