42 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



lateral involvement of this kind, weight may be frequently 

 shifted from one foot to the other, or in chronic cases, where 

 no marked pain is experienced, the subject stands squarely upon 

 both front feet and no peculiar shifting of weiglit or pointing is 

 evident. 



In some cases of hip or shoulder involvement, complete re- 

 laxation of all parts of the affected member may be noticed. 

 In brachial paralysis, the pectoral member is held limply; if the 

 patient is made to move, it is evident there is lack of innerva- 

 tion to the afflicted part. In some cases where contusion has 

 caused acute inflammation of the member, the subject instinct- 

 ively tries to keep it inactive to relieve the pain which move- 

 ment occasions. 



Where there is an active and painful inflammation of the 

 prescapular lymph glands and contiguous structures, in some 

 cases of ''levator-humeri abscess," the scapulohumeral joint is 

 extended. This is brought about by flexion of the elbow and 

 carpal joints. 



There are some eases of bi-lateral affections which occasion 

 such pain during weight-bearing that the subject shifts its 

 weight from one affected leg to the other; an example of this 

 condition may be observed in any acute case of gonitis which 

 affects both patellar regions, making it ecjually painful to bear 

 the weight on either member. 



A peculiar characteristic position is assumed in acute laminitis 

 of the fore feet. In such instances, the hind feet are brought 

 forward under the body sufficiently to relieve the front feet of 

 the weight, insofar as is possible by the abnormal position taken 

 in cases of acute laminitis. 



So in each position that is abnormal to any degree, assumed 

 by a suffering animal, there may l^e deduced, the fact that the 

 subject is attempting to relieve the affected structures, and in 

 each clinical picture of this kind, the trained diagnostician sees 

 some index to the nature and source of the trouble. Further 

 examination is rendered more effective because of this prelim- 

 inary visual examination which has precluded the unnecessary 

 annoyance of the animal by manii)nlating unaffected structures. 



It has been presupposed in the foregoing, that the one raak- 



