Symptoms.—An accurate diagnosis is not always practicable, because the disease itself is obscure. The symptoms which have been observed attending Embolism are great pain, profuse sweat, but cold extremities; quick, wiry pulse; and considerable general disturbance of health; anxious expression of face; looking round to the affected parts; rigidity and contraction of certain muscles; partial recovery and simultaneous attack of the other limb, and return of attack to the first; diminished pulse in the arteries of the implicated limb; peculiar throbbing of the posterior aorta felt through the rectum; followed by partial or complete paralysis of the limb or hind quarters; and ultimately death.
Aneurism
Definition.—A tumor formed by the dilatation of an artery, or communicating with an artery, and containing blood. In the first stage the tumor contains fluid blood, and pulsates; in its second stage it contains coagulated blood, deposited in numerous thin layers, resembling the leaves of a book.
Aneurism may be idiopathic or traumatic; the latter is caused by injury to the artery. In the idiopathic or spontaneous Aneurism the dilatation may be of considerable extent, or it may be limited, with the coats of the artery intact or even thickened, or the inner coat may be attenuated and the outer one pressed outward. As the Aneurism becomes old, the coats become indurated, calcified and liable to burst. It is not an uncommon disorder in the horse, and when it occurs it is generally in the deep-seated arteries. The posterior aorta, at the origin of the anterior mesenteric artery, is very subject to Aneurism as animals grow older.
Diagnosis.—This is extremely difficult, for the attendant symptoms may be readily attributed to some other malady. They often come on suddenly; the horse becomes dejected, thin, and unable to work; respiration is accelerated; pulse and heart beats are irregular; there is some stiffness in turning, or tenderness on pressure applied to the loins; swelling and cramps in the hind legs; Paralysis.
Varicose Veins
Definition.—A morbid dilatation of the veins, causing a knotty, unequal swelling, so that their valves, which cannot undergo a corresponding enlargement, cease to be efficient. The effect is a retarded and imperfect flow of blood on the return to the heart.
The disease occurs most frequently in the form of a soft, elastic tumor in the saphena vein, where it passes over the inner surface of the hock joint; but it may affect another vein, or many veins. It is commonly found where the blood has been repeatedly drawn.
Causes.—Violent efforts in drawing; strains; inflammation set up by a prick in shoeing; frequent bloodlettings.
Symptoms.—The affected veins are dilated, tortuous, knotted, and divided into separate pouches, with obliteration of the valves. Varix of the saphena at the hock joint is attended with a tumor, which gradually increases in size, is flaccid to the touch, slightly pendulous, and shaking loosely when the horse walks; becoming full and tense on pressure of the vein above it; and capable of evacuation by pressure from below upward.