SPECIAL REPORT 



DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



THE EXAMINATION OF A SICK HORSE. 



By Leonard Pearson, B. S., V. M. D., 



Dean of the Veterinary DejMrtment, University of Pennsyhania, and State Veterina.r'ian of 



Pennsylvania. 



In the examination of a sick horse it is important to have a method, 

 or S3^stem. If a definite plan of examination is followed one may feel 

 reasonably sure when the examination is finished that no important 

 point has been overlooked and that the examiner is in a position to 

 arrive at an opinion that is as accurate as is possible for him. Of 

 course, an experienced eye can see, and a trained hand can feel, slight 

 alterations or variations from the normal that are not perceptible to 

 the unskilled observer. A thorough knowledge of the conditions that 

 exist in health is of the highest importance, because it is only by a 

 knowledge of what is right that one can surely detect a condition that 

 is wrong. A knowledge of anatomy, or of the structure of the body, 

 and of physiology, or the functions and activities of the body, lie at 

 the bottom of accuracy of diagnosis. It is important to remember 

 that animals of different races or families deport themselves differ- 

 entl}^ under the influence of the same disease or pathological process. 

 The sensitive and highly organized Thoroughbred resists cerebral 

 depression more than does the Ijnnphatic draft horse. Hence a degree 

 of fever that does not produce marked dullness in a Thoroughbred 

 may cause the most abject dejection in a coarsely bred heavy draft 

 horse. This and similar facts are of vast importance in the diagnosis 

 of disease and in the recognition of its significance. 



The order of examination, as given below, is one that has proved to 

 be comparatively easy of application and sufiiciently thorough for the 

 purpose of the readers of this work. It is recommended by several 

 writers. 



