Symptomatology. Sem,eiology. 19 



gait. The fact that the veterinarian is restricted to objective 

 symptoms renders his task a specially difficult one, yet this has its 

 compensation, as this very restriction tends to train the observant 

 practitioner to greater skill. 



5. Direct Symptoms (idiopathic) are those which are con- 

 nected with the seat of disease, as the redness, exudation, and 

 swelling of inflammation. 



6. Indirect (sympathetic, dependent) Symptoms are ob- 

 servable at a distance from the actual disease : — as when headache 

 attends on dyspepsia, or lameness in the right shoulder upon dis- 

 ease of the liver. 



7. Premonitory or precursory symptoms precede the diag- 

 nostic symptoms of some diseases, thus dullness and languor 

 often heralds an approaching fever, and the strangles of young 

 horses is often preceded by a general unthrifty appearance, poor ■ 

 appetite and indisposition to exertion. 



In observing symptoms as in other things, some have far greater 

 natural ability than others, but in all a careful training will do 

 much to develop and improve the power and habit. A most im- 

 portant thing in such habits is the strict maintenance of a system, 

 not to be followed as a cast iron rule but to be constantly kept in 

 mind and strictly carried out except when sound judgement and 

 experience show it to be unnecessary. 



Anamnesis. As a rule the first thing to be learned about a 

 patient is his history, and personal and hereditary characteristics. 

 What are his general health, temperament, previous attacks, 

 hereditary predisposition, environment ? Is the site of the build- 

 ing, its condition as regards soil, springs, drainage, structure, 

 ventilation, light, cleanliness such as would favor any particular 

 disorder or class of disorder ? Is the patient in high, low, or 

 moderate condition, robust or debilitated, alert and lively or dull 

 and stupid ? Have other animals suffered recently, or at a cor- 

 responding season, or under sin^ilar conditions in apparently the 

 same manner? How long has the patient suffered, were there 

 any premonitory indications of illness, what were the first symp- 

 toms, and what symptoms have followed up to the present? 

 Has there been any change of food, water or management that 

 might throw light on the cause ? Has there been any change of 

 weather or unwonted exposure to cold, storm, overwork, com- 



