The Groom's Appearance
The doctor, doubtful that anyone in town will lend him their horse after his died, kicks the side of the pigsty out of frustration. He soon notices a man inside the pigsty who crawls out on all fours with two large horses and asks the doctor is he needs help. This is likely the first strange description readers encounter in the story, as the man is depicted as an animal – even, most likely, a pig – with a sinister agenda. As soon as he assaults Rosa, the story establishes the groom as a disturbing manifestation of desire.
The Horses
Throughout the story, the horses provided by the groom are described in vivid detail. The doctor first marvels at their size and strength, and when he is at the patient's house, the horses unrelentingly push their heads through the window. The consistent and intrusive presence of the large animals is juxtaposed with the doctor's passive nature, and even though horses are supposed to be trained, the doctor has no control over them at any point in the story.
The Wound
The doctor describes the patient's wound in vivid, visceral, and gruesome detail. This description is disturbing in nature but the doctor himself seems compelled to keep examining the wound, even though he knows the patient is dying. The doctor's interest in the wound rather than the patient himself suggests that his work as a doctor is not entirely a selfless pursuit.
