314 



RESPIRATORY APPARATUS. 



scarcely be examined except by inspection, external palpation, internal 

 digital palpation, and auscultation. 



External examination presents no difficulty, and enables one to detect 

 lesions around or near the larynx. 



Palpation reveals the existence of oedematous swellings, enlarge- 

 ments of the retro-pharyngeal lymphatic glands, inflammatory en- 

 gorgements, etc. 



Internal digital examination, Hke examination of the pharynx, can 

 only be performed after very firmly fixing the animal in position, and 

 inserting a gag in the mouth. 



The hand is introduced, palm downwards, and passed as far as the 



Fia. 165. — Manual examination of the larynx in the ox. 



pharyngeal cavity. The index finger can then easily be slipped into 

 the glottis. Exploration must be effected rapidly and without violence. 

 It reveals the condition of the glottis, the presence, position and form 

 of growths like myxomata and of new tissues, due to the presence of 

 actinomyces, as well as tuberculous vegetations or ulcerations. 



By auscultation we discover the presence of normal or abnormal 

 laryngeal sounds — roaring, whistling, or bubbling sounds, etc. 



Trachea. The trachea may be examined by palpation and 

 auscultation. 



Palpation reveals the degree of sensitiveness, abnormalities in position 

 or form, the presence of peripheral inflammations, fractures of rings, etc. 



Auscultation indicates whether the tracheal sound be normal or 

 otherwise, or accompanied by abnormal sounds, like mucous rales, or 

 by pathological sounds conveyed from the chest. 



