PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 269 



erally an indication of a higher virulence than those occur- 

 ring later. 



2. The Previous Symptoms. — An inquiry into the symp- 

 toms presented prior to the date of examination may often 

 be made to some advantage, although this feature is less 

 important in the diagnosis of wounds than in that of 

 internal diseases. When systemic disturbances accompany 

 the trauma, this part of the history should not be omitted. 

 Previous dejection, previous inappetence, previous pyrexia, 

 previous lameness, previous discharges of such or such char- 

 acter, and previous swellings, may all alter the final conclu- 

 sions. It is here that one learns the duration of certain phe- 

 nomena that might have a bearing in both the diagnosis and 

 the prognosis of the condition. 



3. The Previous Treatment. — Wounds are so fre- 

 quently submitted to empirical treatments that not only 

 change their physiognomy but also render them more ser- 

 ious, that it is absolutely necessary to take into account 

 every phase of the treatment 'administered. Often aggra- 

 vated, threatening and even painful swellings are traceable 

 to the previous application of an irritating liniment. These 

 might readily be mistaken for serious infective inflamma- 

 tions if the exact cause were not determined. Again, the 

 treatment might have been of such a character as to have 

 conveyed dangerous infections into the wound. Cob-webs 

 to arrest haemorrhage, and animal excrements as poultices 

 are two of the many empirical remedies which demand spe- 

 cial counter-remedies when the more intelligent wound 

 treatment begins. And finally, caustic substances change 

 wounds into conditions that would be confusing if the cause 

 were not known. Diarrhoea might be caused from sep- 

 ticaemia, or it might be the result of a purgative medicament 

 previously administered. 



4. The Nature of the Objeqt Inflicting the Wound. — 



