EXAMINATION OP A SICK HORSE. 21 



By applying the ear over the lower part of the windpipe in front of 

 the breastbone a somewhat harsh, blowing sound may be heard. This 

 is known as the bronchial murmur and is heard in normal conditions 

 near the lower part of the trachea and to a limited extent in the ante- 

 rior portions of the lungs after sharp exercise. When the bronchial 

 murmur is heard over other portions of the lungs, it may signify that 

 the lungs are more or less solidified by disease and the blowing bron- 

 chial murmur is transmitted through this solid lung to the ear from a 

 distant part of the chest. The bronchial murmur in an abnormal 

 place signifies that there exists pneumonia or that the lungs are com- 

 pressed by fluid in the chest cavity. 



Additional sounds are heard in the lungs in some diseased condi- 

 tions. For example, when fluid collects in the air passages and the 

 air is forced through it or is caused to pass through tubes containing 

 secretions or pus. Such sounds are of a gurgling or bubbling nature 

 and are known as mucous rales. Mucous rales are spoken of as being 

 large or small as they are distinct or indistinct, depending upon the 

 quantity of fluid that is present and the size of the tube in which this 

 sound is produced. Mucous rales occur in pneumonia after the solid- 

 ified parts begin to break down at the end of the disease. They occur 

 in bronchitis and in tuberculosis, where there is an excess of secretion. 



Sometimes a shrill sound is heard, like the note of a whistle, fife, or 

 flute. This is due to a dry constriction of the bronchial tubes and it 

 is heard in chronic bronchitis and in tuberculosis. 



A friction sound is heard in pleurisy. This is due to the rubbing 

 together of roughened surfaces, and the sound produced is similar 

 to a dry rubbing sound that is caused by rubbing the hands together 

 or by rubbing upon each other two dry, rough pieces of leather. 



THE EXAMINATION OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. 



The first point in connection with the examination of the organs of 

 digestion is the appetite and the manner of taking food and drink. A 

 healthy animal has a good appetite. Loss of appetite does not point 

 to a special diseased condition, but comes from a variety of causes. 

 Some of these causes, indeed, may be looked upon as being physio- 

 logical. Excitement, strange surroundings, fatigue, and hot weather 

 may all cause loss of appetite. Where there is cerebral depression, 

 fever, profound weakness, disorder of the stomach, or mechanical 

 difficulty in chewing or swallowing, the appetite is diminished or 

 destroyed. Sometimes there is an appetite or desire to eat abnormal 

 things, such as dirty bedding, roots of grass, soil, etc. This desire 

 usually comes from a chronic disturbance of nutrition. 



Thirst is diminished in a good many mild diseases unaccompanied 

 by distinct fever. It is seen where there is great exhaustion or depres- 

 sion or profound brain disturbance. Thirst is increased after pro- 



