VALUE OF THE ROENTGEN RAYS IN DIAGNOSIS 359 



thoroughly acquainted with the anatomical structures in the 

 part which is being exposed goes without saying ; in fact, to 

 sum up, in any case sufficiently obscure to need the X-ray 

 application the veterinary surgeon should accept all the aid 

 he can obtain from the reading of the signs shown on the 

 plate, as interpreted by the technical expert, before giving his 

 chent a decided and definite opinion. 



To those who for the first time work with an animal, there 

 are certain points which do not so specifically apply to 

 human patients to be taken into consideration. For example, 

 it is sometimes difficult to make a cat or dog understand 



Fig. 239. — Comminuted Fracture of the Radius of a Dog.^ 



that the crackling noise which accompanies the electrical 

 discharges need not be considered a cause for fright or 

 alarm, and in the case of a nervous patient hobbles, such as 

 are used for an ordinary surgical operation, may have to be 

 applied. This can sometimes be obviated by allowing the 

 apparatus to work within a short distance of the patient for 

 a few minutes before the plate is exposed, and by the presence 

 of the owner holding and talking to the animal. Of late 

 years this difficulty has largely been done away with by the 

 improved methods introduced for shortening the exposure, 



^ For this skiagraph I am indebted to Mr. A. S. Hodgkins. 



