CHAPTER IX 



Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease 



Some diseases are not difficult to diagnose. Those 

 resulting from wounds or knocks are easily located, 

 and their treatment readily outlined. Others, how- 

 ever, are not so easy. Something is observed as 

 wrong, the animal acts strangely, does not take to 

 its food, is fretful, stands or walks unnatural — what 

 is the matter? The stockman must ascertain the 

 trouble, and the quicker the better. 



A review of the past few days is desirable. Where 

 has the animal been? What kind of food has it 

 had? With what strange fellows has it associated? 

 Has it been put to excessive work or exposed to 

 unusual weather or conditions? What infectious 

 diseases are prevalent in the community? These 

 and other questions will occur; in some instances 

 the answer will be at hand. 



MAKE A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION 



The stockman should at least know the funda- 

 mental principles of health and of any departure 

 from them that indicate disease. Hence a super- 

 ficial examination of the animal, as a whole, is in 

 line of diagnosing the disease. Note the general 

 condition of the body. The thermometer will ad- 

 vise you rightly. Is there pain? If possible 

 determine this point and locate the seat of it. Is 

 the circulation natural? An examination of the 

 pulse will tell you if the blood is racing rapidly or 

 gliding slowly, and whether regular or rough. Is 



92 



