26 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



former usually accompanies some chronic diseases of the spinal cord 

 or the earlier stages of irritation of a nerve trunk. Hyperesthesia is 

 difficult to detect in a nervous, irritable animal, and sometimes even 

 in a horse of less sensitive temperament. An irritable, sensitive spot 

 may be found surrounded by skin that is not sensitive to pressure. 

 This is sometimes a symptom of beginning of inflammation of the 

 brain. Anesthesia occurs in connection with cerebral and spinal 

 paralysis, section of a nerve trunk leading to a part, in severe mental 

 depression, and in narcotic poisoning. 



ITRIXARY AND SEXUAL ORGANS. 



In considering the examination of the urinary and sexual organs 

 we may consider, at the beginning, a false impression that prevails to 

 an astonishing extent. Many horsemen are in the habit of pressing 

 upon the back of a horse over the loins or of sliding the ends of the 

 fingers along on either side of the median line of this region. If the 

 horse depresses his back it is at once said " his kidne3^s are weak."- 

 Nothing could be more absurd or further from the truth. Any 

 healthy horse — any horse with normal sensation and with a normally 

 flexible back — will cause it to sink when manipulated in this way. If 

 the kidneys are inflammed and sensitive, the back is held more rigidly 

 and is not depressed under this pressure. 



To examine the kidneys by pressure the pressure should be brought 

 to bear over these organs. The kidneys lie beneath the ends of tlie 

 transverse processes of the vertebrae of the loins and beneath the hind- 

 most ribs. If the kidneys are actually inflamed and especially sensi- 

 tive, pressure or light blows applied here may cause the horse to 

 shrink. 



The physical examination of the sexual and generative organs is 

 made in large part through the rectum, and this portion of the exami- 

 nation should be carried out by a veterinarian only. By this means 

 it is possible to discover or locate cysts of the kidneys, urinary 

 calculi in the ureters, bladder, or upper urethra, malformations, and 

 acute inflammations accompanied by pain. The external genital 

 organs are swollen, discolored, or show a discharge as a result of 

 local disease or from disease higher in the tract. 



The manner of urinating is sometimes of considerable diagnostic 

 importance. Painful urination is shown by frequent attempts, dur- 

 ing which but a small quantity of urine is passed; by groaning, by 

 constrained attitude, etc. This condition comes from inflammation 

 of the bladder or urethra, urinary calculi (stones of the bladder or 

 urethra), hemorrhage, tumors, bruises, etc. The urine is retained 

 from spasms of the muscle at the neck of the bladder, from calculi, 

 inflammatory growths, tumors, and paralysis of the bladder. 



The urine dribbles without control when the neck of the bladder 

 is weakened or paralyzed. This condition is seen after the bladder is 



