516 AUSCULTATION. 



tine which lie above the right cul-de-sac of the rumen. A 

 crepitating sound may be heard on the right and especially 

 on the left side, in the two lower regions, and posteriorly to 

 the eighth rib. This is best marked shortly after the animal 

 has fed, more so if on green fodder, and seems to depend on 

 the evolution of gas among the contents of the rumen. 

 Another source of crepitation not unfrequently existing, is 

 the extravasation of air into the subcutaneous areolar tissue ; 

 this sound may be readily distinguished from all others, by 

 its being increased by manipulation. On both sides, and in 

 the same regions as the first crepitating sound is met with, 

 may be often heard a strong friction sound, evidently result- 

 ing from the active contractions of the rumen upon its con- 

 tents, and most common during rumination. Lastly, a 

 gurgling sound may be heard in the posterior part of the 

 inferior region on the left side ; this seems to depend on the 

 passage of liquid from the first into the second stomach, and 

 vice versa. These all differ from the true thoracic sounds, 

 in occurring at irregular intervals, and bearing no relation to 

 the rhythm of respiration. 



Sheep. In the sheep, as in the horse, the true respira- 

 tory murmur may be heard as far as the second last rib. 

 The moveable shoulder of this animal allows a tolerable 

 examination of the anterior part of the chest. From the 

 heart being entirely surrounded by pulmonary tissue, and 

 from the size of the anterior lobe of the right lung, the 

 vesicular murmur is stronger and less confounded with 

 cardiac sounds, than in the same part in the animals pre- 

 viously noticed. It is remarkable, too, that the sound be- 

 hind the shoulder is not more powerful on the right than on 

 the left side. 



The superadded sounds are similar to those met with in 

 the ox, but subcutaneous crepitation is less frequent. 



