22 LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 



tlirombosis of the posterior aorta aucl its branches. For 

 this purpose the fingers of the hand are shaped like a cone, 

 hand and arm moistened. The other hand pushes the tail 

 to one side, and with a rotatory movement the moistened 

 hand is introduced into the rectum ; faeces are removed by 

 the hand. To feel for thrombosis of the posterior aorta, 

 iliac and femoral artery, search first for the posterior aorta, 

 the pulsations of which can be distinctly felt ; now proceed 

 along the course of the vessel on one side and then on the 

 other. In cases of thrombosis pulsations are either absent 

 or a slight trickling feeling is imparted to the finger, the 

 obstructed vessel being abnormally hard. Here as else- 

 where the vessel on the opposite side must also be examined 

 and the results compared, to avoid errors. 



To locate fracture of the pelvic bones the hand and 

 fingers palpate the floor and sides of the pelvis ; if no fissure 

 can be found by simple palpation, it is well to let somebody 

 push one hindquarter toward the other one, which may 

 cause a displacement of the fractured parts, easily detected 

 by the examining hand. In this manner crepitation may 

 also be brought out. In luxation of the head of the femur 

 into the foramen ovale its head can be felt, especially when 

 the affected leg is moved. 



An important question often arises while examining an 

 animal for lameness, viz.: Is the abnormality found the 

 cause of the present lameness ? In answer to that question, 

 the following points are to be considered : 



1. Compare the degree of lameness with the pain 

 resulting from palpation of the diseased part. If the 

 lameness is out of proportion to the pain produced by the 

 local examination, care is necessary to avoid mistakes. In 

 such cases the examination is to be continued until another 



