46 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



ditions that may assist iu the prognosis of any given case, 

 for the purpose of being able to outline rational remedial 

 measures. To be able to distinguish between the generalization 

 of a septic infection in its incipiency, and a more or less benign 

 edema, is largely possible by digital manipulation alone. An 

 extremity may be greatly swollen because of the existence of 

 chronic lymphangitis, influenza, or an acute septic infection oc- 

 casioned by the introduction of pathogenic and aerogenic or- 

 ganisms. Since the effect produced by these dissimilar ailments 

 are productive of conditions that may terminate favorably or 

 unfavorably, it becomes necessary for the diagnostician to de- 

 velop a trained, discriminating, tactile-digital sense, in order to 

 correctly interpret existing conditions, and handle cases in 

 a rational and skillful manner. 



In order to ascertain the extent and exact location of a tumor, 

 an exostosis, or other enlargements, the diagnostician, here also, 

 needs to be in possession of a trained tactile sense and in addi- 

 tion if he be fortified with an accurate knowledge of normal anat- 

 omy and pathology, he is able to arrive at proper conclusions, 

 when digital manipulations have been employed. Fibrous tu- 

 mors are sometimes located in the inferior part of the medial 

 side of the tarsus — exactly over the seat of bone-spavin. Such 

 tumors, when the affected member is supporting weight, are not 

 to be distinguished from exostoses; but as soon as the affected 

 leg ceases to bear weight, it may be passively flexed and the 

 nature of the enlargement recognized because it may be slightly 

 displaced by digital manipulation. Displacement, of course, is 

 not possible with an exostosis. 



A necessary qualification, which the diagnostician must pos- 

 sess, is that of being able to judge carefully the nearness of any 

 given exostosis to articular structures. Also, the extent or area 

 of the base of an exostosis as well as its exact position, needs 

 be determined before one may estimate the probal)le outcome 

 in any case, — whether treatment should be encouraged or dis- 

 couraged by the practitioner. Periarticular ringbone may, be- 

 cause of the size and location of the exostosis, constitute a con- 

 dition Avhich cannot be relieved in any way in one case, and in 

 another, because of the manner of distribution of such osseous 



