366 



difificulty, however, and, lliough ho ma}' walk uormallj-, he will, when 

 made to trot, very soon begin to slacken his pace and to show signs 

 of the trouble, and if urged to increase his speed will become lamer 

 and lamer; an abundant pers]3iration vdll break out; he will refuse 

 to go, and if forced he shows weakness behind; seems ready to fall, 

 and perhaps does fall. While on his feet the leg is kept in constant 

 motion, u^) and down, and is kejit from the ground as if the contact 

 vras too painful to bear. If undisturbed this series of symptoms will 

 graduall}' subside, sometimes very soon, and occasionally after a few 

 hours lie will return to an apparently x^erfect condition. A return to 

 labor will lead to a renewal of the same incidents. 



A history like this suggests a strong suspicion of embolism of an 

 artery of the hind leg, and this suspicion will be confirmed by the 

 external sjnni^toms exhibited by the animal. The total absence of 

 any other disease which might account for the lameness, and a mani- 

 fest diminution of heat over a part or the whole of the extremity, 

 when compared with the opposite side or Avitli any other j^ortion of 

 tlie body; a sensation of cold attendant on the pain, but gradually 

 subsiding as the i)ain subsides, and the circulation, quickened bj^ the 

 rest, has been reestablished throughout the extremity; all these are 

 confirmatory circumstances. Still, it is thus far only a suspicion, and 

 absolute certainty is jet wanting. To establish the truth of the case 

 the rectal taxis must be resorted to. The hands then, well prepared 

 and carefulh" introduced into the rectum, must explore for the truth, 

 first feeling for the large blood vessels which, divided at the aorta, 

 separate to supx)ly the right and left legs. These must be compared 

 in respect to the j)ulsation and other particulars. The artery which is 

 health}^ will of course exhibit all the proper conditions of that state. 

 On the other hand, if the vessel appears to the feel hard, more or less 

 cordy, and jjulseless, or giving a sensation of fluttering, as of a small 

 A'olume of blood with a trickling motion i^assing through a confined 

 space, the difference betAveen the sides will make the case plain. The 

 first will be the full flow of the circulation through an unobstructed 

 channel, the other a forced passage of the fluid between the embolism 

 and the coats of the artery. 



In such a case the jirognosis is necessarilj' a grave one. No form of 

 treatment can be advised; and the suffering of a helpless and useless 

 animal can onl}' bo terminated by that Avhicli ends all. 



Cases occur, however, where this condition of the blood-vessels 

 exists in a much less degree, and the diseased condition is not suffi- 

 ciently' pronounced for final condemnation. There may oven be a 

 possibilitj^ of tlie absorption of the clot, and that an increase of the 

 circulation maj' be sufficient to supply' the parts with blood. In such 

 cases attempls may be made looking to the possibility of relief, and 

 the pasture, field, oi- the stable, and unmolested nature must be trusted 

 for the rest. 



