DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART 267 



Pastern. The part between the fetlock joint and the 

 hoof. (See cut of the foot, part first.) 



Pastern Nerve. The nerve from which a portion is cut 

 out in the operation of nerving. 



Pasture. Pastures in elevated situations are the best for 

 horses. 



Patella. The knee-pan of the human body, and the 

 stifle of the horse. (See Skeleton.) 



Pathology. The doctrine of diseases. 



Paunch. The common name for the first stomach of the 

 cow. 



Pectorals. Medicines that relieve cough, and other dis- 

 eases of the lungs. 



Pectoral Muscles. The muscles of the breast. 



Pelvis. The basin, or that cavity wherein is lodged the 

 bladder, uterus, and the rectum. 



Penis. The yard or male genital organs. 



Perforans Tendon. The innermost of the back sinews, 

 or that which goes to the back sinews. 



Pericardium. The heart bag. (See Heart, part first.) 



Pericranium. The membrane that is closely connected 

 with the bones of the head. 



Periosteum. The investing membrane of the bones. 



Peristaltic Motion. That motion of the muscular coat 

 of the bowels, which causes the food and excrement to pass 

 through them. 



Peritoneum. The membrane which forms the external 

 coat of the bowels, and some other of the viscera of the 

 abdomen ; it is, therefore, named the peritoneal coat of the 

 bowels. It lines, also, the internal surface of the belly. 



Peritonitis. Inflammation of the peritoneum. Diseases 

 of the peritoneum are very rare in horses ; and when treated 

 on the depleting, antiphlogistic principles of allopathy, gen- 

 erally terminate fatally. When the physiological equilibrium 

 is interrupted, and inflammation of the peritoneum ensues, 

 the available vital force is concentrated upon a small region 

 of the body. The true indication is, to invite this force 



