DIAGNOSTIC PRINCIPLES 4'd 



iiig visual examination of a lame animal for diagnostic purposes, 

 will remcml)er that vritli the normal animal the -weight is borne 

 equally well with both fore legs; and that this is done without 

 shifting from one to the other; and that the pelvic limbs do not 

 support the body in this manner. Normal su])jects shift their 

 weight from one hind leg to the other and the one relaxed, rests 

 in a state of tiexion with the toe on the ground and the heel 

 raised. 



Examination by Palpation. 



In nearly every case where lameness exists an examination of 

 the affected parts, by palpation or by digital manipulation, 

 is necessary before an accurate conclusion may be drawn ; but 

 in making this kind of an examination one needs to exercise good 

 judgment lest he fail to acquire a correct impression of the 

 actual existent conditions. There is need for the diagnostician, 

 here, as well as in other conditions where physical examination 

 is made, to api)roach the subject in a manner that will not ex- 

 cite or disturb to the extent that the animal will, in one way 

 or another, resist or object to the approach of the diagnostician, 

 thereby masking the symptoms sought. The practitioner would 

 best acquire skill as a horseman — if he is not possessed of such 

 — and handle each individual subject in the manner calculated 

 to best suit the temperament of the animal examined. The 

 unbroken subject is not handled as satisfactorily as is the in- 

 telligent family horse ; in the former, in some cases, little de- 

 pendence is placed upon digital examination. 



By palpation one is enabled to recognize hyperthermia and 

 this, in lieu of dependable history, is at times sufficient evidence 

 upon which to determine the duration of any given inflammatory 

 affection. 



By comparison of different parts of the same member or with 

 an analogous portion of another member any marked increase in 

 the apparently normal temperature of a part at once signalizes 

 inflammation. In this manner, in examining a case where 

 laminitis or other inflammation of the feet is suspected, one may 

 arrive at a fairly accurate conclusion without the employment 

 of other means. Throbbing vessels are not always easily rec- 

 ognized if the subject is a victim of chronic lymphangitis. 



