DETECTION OF THE SEAT OF LAMENESS. 19 



not be mistaken for a spavin. In these cases the ridges are 

 found on both hocks, and as they are situated along the 

 center of the bone and not its edge, this, together with the 

 fact that other bones of the bony frame are naturally 

 enlarged, — for instance, the knee bones, easily detected by 

 inspection and palpation, — helps to avoid errors. 



The gluteal region is inspected for muscular atrophy, 

 changes in the shape of the external angle of the ilium and 

 the postero-external angle of the ischium. 



Whenever the animal is subjected to such a methodical 

 examination, one rarely fails to find some pathological 

 condition, as swelling, heat, pain, etc., subsequently^ to be 

 examined by palpation. 



In palpating, the situation, consistency, form and extent 

 of the lesion require the attention of the one conducting the 

 examination. To interpret pain, the possible result of 

 palpation, demands great care, especially when palpating the 

 flexor tendons of the phalanges, as even moderate pressure 

 upon them causes some patients to flinch. By gliding the 

 thumb and index finger over the flexor pedis perforans and 

 perforatus from above to below, with the leg resting on the 

 ground, enlargements, ruptures, etc., can be detected, but 

 pain in these structures must not be considered a symptom 

 of disease unless palpation is conducted with the foot raised 

 from the ground. 



In palpating the metacarpal bones, the thumb rests 

 against the region of the external face of the bone, while the 

 balance of the fingers touch the internal face ; in this 

 manner the pain of periostitis or exostoses, — that is, 

 splints, — can be nicely felt, and mostly in the groove formed 

 by the small and large metacarpal bones. 



Certain precautions are necessary in palpating the region 



