144 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



the services of a skilled and experienced person to locate tlie 

 diseased part. Wlien the part shows local lesions of disease and 

 the lameness is characteristic, diagnosis is not difficult. 



The examination should he made while the animal is at rest; 

 while standing in the stall and on level ground ; when moved at a 

 walk, or a slow trot on soft ground, or a hard roadway ; and whetn 

 moved out after resting a few hours. While examining the 

 animal under the different conditions mentioned, the examiner 

 must be careful and not pass over any part of a limb without 

 determining whether it is normal or not. He should note any 

 abnormal position that the animal may take while standing at 

 rest. Every movement should be watched closely, as the manner 

 of favoring the part may characterize the lameness. Negative 

 symptoms of lameness in a part may at times prove as valuable 

 in forming a diagnosis as positive symptoms. 



The resting of either of the front feet, when the horse is 

 standing at ease, indicates that there is some soreness in the 

 rested limb. Pointing or placing one or both feet well in front 

 of the line of support, when the animal is standing, usually indi- 

 cates a diseased condition of the feet. It is natural for a horse 

 that is standing in a stall to rest the hindfeet alternately. When 

 the hindfoot is rested because of a soreness in some portion of 

 the limb, it may be flexed or extended, the weight rested on the 

 toe, and the foot flexed and bearing practically no weight. In 

 serious inflammation of the front feet, both feet may be placed 

 well in front of the nonnal position, and the hindfeet well under 

 the body. 



When examining a horse, the blanket or harness should be 

 removed. The horse should have on an open bridle or halter, and 

 the attendant should give it as much freedom of the head as 

 possible. The examiner should examine each limb carefully and 

 note any s;>anptom of disease that may be present. The attendant 

 should walk the animal straight away from the person making 

 the examination, toward, and past him, so that the animal's 



