418 DISEASES OF THE AETEEIES. 



in the arteries of the extremities, the disappearance of lame- 

 ness soon after, the relapses at intervals which diminish as 

 the disease advances, the certain fatal termination, render the 

 subject of arterial obstruction one of great interest to vete- 

 rinarians. We cannot say that such cases are very rare, and 

 whenever they do occur, their diagnosis is most important. 

 I should direct attention to the manifestation of pain in a 

 limb, associated with the most marked general disturbance, 

 the temporary paralysis of the limb affected, or of some of its 

 muscles, the local tremors, the invasion of the opposite limb, 

 as if by metastasis, with the subsidence of symptoms in 

 the limb first attacked, the peculiar throbbing of the pos- 

 terior aorta felt through the rectum, the absence of pulsation, 

 a diminished pulse in the arteries of the limb implicated, 

 and lastly, the incurable paralysis, partial or complete, of 

 one or two limbs, soon followed by death. I have been 

 struck by the anxious expression of the face, looking round 

 to the flank, and profuse sweats due to the pain experienced. 

 I am inclined to think that a partial attack of embolism 

 may, in rare instances, be attended with recovery. The cure 

 can only be spontaneous. No method of treatment, except 

 careful nursing, can be suggested. When diagnosed with 

 certainty, progression must always be avoided. 



Errors of diagnosis will frequently occur. I have known 

 such cases to be considered as affections of the hip joint, 

 fractures of the innominate bone on one side, and spavin. 

 It is evident that two conditions may be concomitant as in- 

 dicated by the spavin and embolism witnessed in the case 

 recorded in the foregoing pages. The absence of violence to 

 account for sprains or fracture, the sudden manifestation of 

 the acute general symptoms, offer a contrast to the develop- 

 ment of most forms of disease attended with lameness. 



