PREFACE 



A GENERAL and widespread interest in all questions pertaining to the 

 maintenance of healthy herds of dairy cattle through physical and other 

 forms of examination is evident to anyone at all conversant with the sub- 

 ject. In all physical examinations an accurate knowledge of topographic 

 anatomy, especially of the location and relations of the digestive, respira- 

 tory and genito-urinary organs, is becoming daily more essential to the Vet- 

 erinarian and stock owner. To meet the needs of Veterinarians for a con- 

 cise and graphic exposition of the relations of these organs the present 

 atlas has been prepared. All of the drawings were made from photographs 

 supplemented by direct observations and measurements of the specimens 

 themselves. 



In order to minimize as far as possible the liability to displacements of 

 the organs from their normal position the animal was first placed in a canvas 

 sling and then killed, with very little struggling, by chloroform injected into 

 the jugular vein. The carotid artery was then immediately opened and a 

 very strong solution of formalin injected in order thoroughly to harden and 

 fix the organs in situ. Displacements due to the postmortem accumulation 

 of gas in the rumen, from fermentation of its contents, were avoided by 

 inserting a canula into this organ immediately after death. That the 

 viscera were fixed in their normal position or at least in their position at 

 the time of death, is shown by the fact that upon opening the body cavities 

 no appreciable unoccupied space was found, i.e. the abdominal organs, for 

 example, were everjrwhere in contact with the abdominal parietes as they 

 are in the living animal. Further evidence that no appreciable displace- 

 ments have occurred is shown by the fact that in four other cows similarly 

 prepared and photographed the relations of the parts were practically 

 identical with those in the present specimen. From the moment the live 

 animal was placed in the canvas sling to the final completion of the dis- 

 sections and drawings, the body was maintained in its natural upright 

 position, thus minimizing displacements of organs due to handling or moving 

 the body. In all physical examinations of the live animal a knowledge of 

 the normal location and relations of the various organs is essential, es- 

 pecially the relations of those organs that are accessible to percussion, pal- 

 pation, or auscultation either from the surface of the body or per rectum. 

 Any satisfactory conclusion as to the soundness of an animal from a physical 



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