606 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



tude by prolonged decubitus of twelve to twenty-four 

 hours. There are then noticed sHght digestive disturbances, 

 consisting chiefly of perversion of taste, and pica; but the 

 principal functions are not disturbed. The respiration and 

 circulation are normal, the temperature is but slightly 

 raised, but the patients thrive poorly. 



The disease develops slowly. The lesions of the bones 

 reflect more and more upon the general system and the. or- 

 gans of locomotion. The suffering becomes more intense 

 and renders every movement painful, whether walking or 

 rising. After having stood up with dififijculty, or often after 

 having fallen down again, the animal remains motionless. 

 When standing the back is arched and the legs parted like 

 females. They will lift first one leg then another, as if suf- 

 fering a dull pain. The loins are sensitive to pressure. 

 When moving about they may moan. The walk is stif?, 

 painful, hesitating and irregular. 



Lameness appears abruptly in one or several legs, with- 

 out apparent cause and without a fixed location ; or after 

 having walked a hundred meters. At this period of the dis- 

 ease osteoperiostitis and synovitis makes its appearance, 

 as a rule in the sesamoid sheaths, producing permanent 

 decubitus or very acute pain. Articular cracking can be 

 heard and enlargements appear at the various articulations. 

 The nutritive disturbances lead to emaciation accompanied 

 with perversion of the appetite. The pica is more or less 

 pronounced according to the subjects. They lick every- 

 thing. Licking becomes the sole occupation of the patient. 

 They attack the walls, the mangers and the hay-racks, and 

 search for all kinds of solid bodies to devour — rubbish of 

 plaster, ashes, sand, soil saturated with urine, bitters, old 

 leather, rags, etc. The appetite is very capricious. Fodder 

 of the best quality is refused. These symptoms are accom- 

 panied with profuse salivation, intermittent meteorism and 



