814 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
Another point of interest in relation to the diagnosis of 
roaring has been developed in our clinic. In differential diag¬ 
nosis veterinary writers rely upon the peculiarity of the sound 
when a horse is exerted, the absence of tumors, constrictions 
etc., of the air passages, and finally for a definite decision upon 
the use of the costly and complex laryngoscope or even to 
laryngotomy and direct ocular observation. We have dis¬ 
carded these in our clinic and rely upon external digital ex¬ 
ploration, our technique being as follows : the surgeon ap¬ 
proaches the horse, say, first on the left side and places himself 
beside the animal’s neck, looking in the same direction as the 
horse, the patient’s head being held moderately extended by an 
assistant. Place the palm of the right hand against the left 
lateral surface of the larynx, the index and second fingers 
close together and pressed tightly against the larynx, the third 
and fourth fingers separated from these and passing loosely out 
of the way toward the ear, while the thumb extends down¬ 
wards and forwards outside the angle of the inferior maxilla ; 
press the index and second fingers forward along the larynx 
until the upper or anterior border of the wing of the thyroid 
cartilage is reached and passed, when if the posterior cryco- 
arytenoid muscles are atrophied a cavity is felt and the ary¬ 
tenoid cartilage is readily pushed inwards, offering no elasticity 
but being shoved away as an inert body. For comparison pass 
to the right side of the horse, and now use the left hand in the 
same manner as above directed for the right hand, when if the 
parts are normal there will be distinguished a fullness over the 
arytenoid region, and while the cartilage can be pushed in¬ 
wards it does not so readily pass and reveals a distinct elastic re¬ 
sistance. A very little practice renders the examination easy 
and the conclusion safe. This method of diagnosis offers 
numerous advantages: 
1. It is quicker and much less spectacular. 
2 . It avoids much trouble frequently by doing away with 
the necessity for galloping a horse which possibly is unbroken or 
for some other reason is impracticable or inconvenient. The 
