162 PBINCIPLES OP VETERINARY SURGERY 



In the morning the barnman reports "old Jim" eating well, 

 Tery lame, and quite a swelling about the region of the hip, 

 whereupon the owner concludes to call another veterinarian 

 for an opinion and his choice falls upon you. The owner 

 meets you, gives you the history of the case, most likely 

 omitting the diagnosis of your predecessor, and says : " If the 

 leg of this horse is broken, I want to have him shot, as I 

 don't want the old fellow to suffer any longer." Inspection 

 simply shows a swelling in the region of the hip joint. This 

 swelling is painful and hot. The leg is rested upon the toe, 

 the horse drawing the leg up once in a while. Palpation from 

 the stifle joint down is negative. Pulse, 48 ; respirations, 18. 

 Mucous membranes slightly congested. Temperature, 101.3 

 deg. F. When backed out of his stall he hops on three legs. 

 The history of a fall followed by sudden severe lameness 

 causes you to suspect a fracture. Now you palpate the pelvic 

 bones per rectum, at the same time having his leg twisted, 

 brought forward, backward and abducted. You imagine you 

 perceive a faint crepitus. After finishing your examination, 

 •what can you honestly say ? What facts has your systematic 

 and careful examination revealed ? The owner wants a posi- 

 tive answer one way or the other. This is a case where 

 nobody can positively diagnose a fracture ; there are simply 

 some indications to that effect. Tell the owner that since the 

 decisive symptoms of a fracture are wanting and your 

 examination is greatly handicapped by the large swelling, it 

 preventing you from making a close examination of th© 

 underlying parts, you suggest an antiphlogistic treatment— 

 (don't use the latter term, because he would most likely not 

 understand the word "antiphlogistic") — for four to five 

 days, at the end of which time you will re-examine the 

 horse. 



