2 GENERAL EXAMINATION 



show a disinclination to move, or may change constantly from one place 

 to another. Nervousness, a staring look in the eyes, great restlessness, 

 constant barking or howling point to beginning of congestion of the brain. 

 But these symptoms may also be found in a number of other diseases; 

 for instance, in cases of pentastomes in the nose or cavity of the forehead, 

 in cases of parasites of the intestines, in rabies and distemper. 



Howling is observed in a great many of the various painful diseases, 

 particularly in disorders of the stomach and intestines. Colic of the intes- 

 tines may present great nervous excitement; a nervous animal sometimes 

 will swallow indigestible substances, foreign bodies, show a tendency to 

 bite, but that does not necessarily mean that the animal has rabies; but 

 if this is accompanied by a hoarse, howling bark and a staggering gait, 

 it will change the existing suspicion to a certainty. 



Symptoms resembling rabies may appear from the presence of pen- 

 tastomes in the nasal cavities, from taenia ecchinococcus in the intestines, 

 foreign bodies between the teeth, in the pharynx, stomach and intestines, 

 or as the result of continuous sexual excitement. Further, we may 

 may have uncontrollable movements which are caused by changes in the 

 physical condition; they appear in certain circumscribed diseases of the 

 cerebrum and cerebellum or from cysts, tumors, abscesses, hemorrhages 

 of the brain and in certain forms of poisoning or from distemper, 

 slight convulsions, etc., but this subject will be taken up in detail 

 later on. 



Dulness or total indifference to external influences, staring expres- 

 sion of the eye, a slow staggering gait, sleepiness or coma (entire 

 unconsciousness), are seen in the various diseases of the brain and its 

 coverings, from injury to the skull, or to shock, in serious infectious dis- 

 eases, such as distemper, septicaemia and infectious hemorrhage, gastro- 

 enteritis, in poisoning by some narcotics, or uraemia, acute jaundice, 

 acute anaemia and in all diseases that are terminating fatally. 



In some cases we see short attacks of unconsciousness brought on 

 by great excitement and pain, as in surgical operations, cysts in the 

 brain, anaemia, continued hemorrhage, abscess or tumors in the brain, 

 effects of certain poisons, etc.; for further information on this subject see 

 article on the examination of the nervous system. In making an exami- 

 nation of the physical condition of an animal, we must always take into 

 consideration the fact that the symptoms may be very much modified 

 by the presence of strangers or the veterinarian; on the other hand, pet 

 dogs may often hide certain symptoms, or from fear may present symp- 

 toms that are very much exaggerated. 



Very sick animals will not rise when called by a stranger or even by 

 the owner when a stranger is present, while a healthy animal will rise 

 or bark, and show its presence in various ways. The position of the 



