342 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
scrutiny for its discovery. The lameness may be well marked, and an 
animal may show it but little while walking, though upon being 
urged into a trot will manifest it more and more, until presently it 
will cease to use the crippled limb altogether, and travel entirely 
on three legs. The acute character of the lameness will vary in 
degree as the seat of the lesion approximates the acetabulum. In 
walking, the motion at the hip is very limited, and the leg is dragged; 
while at rest it is relieved from bearing its share in sustaining the 
body. An intelligent opinion and correct conclusion will depend 
largely upon a knowledge of the history of the case, and while in 
some instances that will be but a report of the common etiology of 
fractures, such as blows, hurts, and other external violence, the 
simple fact of a fall may furnish in a single word a satisfactory 
solution of the whole matter. 
With the exception of the deformity of the ilium in a fracture of 
its external angle, and unless there has been a serious laceration of 
tissues and infiltration of blood, or excessive displacement, there are 
no very definite external symptoms in a case of a fracture of the hip 
bone. There is one, however, which, in a majority of cases, will not 
fail—it is crepitation. This evidence is attainable by both external 
and internal examination—by manipulation of the gluteal surface 
and by rectal taxis. Very often a lateral motion, or balancing of the 
hinder parts by pressing the body from one side to the other, will be 
sufficient to render the crepitation more distinct—a slight sensation of 
grating, which may be perceived even through the thick coating of 
muscle which covers the bone—and the sensation may not only be felt, 
but to the expert may even become audible. This external manifesta- 
tion is, however, not always sufficient in itself, and should invariably 
be associated with the rectal taxis for corroboration. It is true that 
this may fail to add to the evidence of fracture, but till then the 
simple testimony afforded by the detection of crepitation from the 
surface, though a strong confirmatory point, is scarcely sufficiently 
absolute to establish more than a reasonable probability or strong 
suspicion in the case. 
In addition to the fact that the rectal examination brings the ex- 
ploring hand of the surgeon into near proximity to the desired point 
of search, and to an accurate knowledge of the situation of parts, 
both pro and con as respects his own views, there is another advan- 
tage attendant upon it which is well entitled to appreciation: This is 
the facility with which he can avail himself of the help of an assist- 
ant; who can aid him by manipulating the implicated limb and 
placing it in various positions, so far as the patient will permit, while 
the surgeon himself is making explorations and studying the effect 
from within. By this method he can hardly fail to ascertain the 
character of the fracture and the condition of the bony ends. By 
