diff --git a/solr_connection.inc b/solr_connection.inc
index 770a7b6..df20faa 100644
--- a/solr_connection.inc
+++ b/solr_connection.inc
@@ -122,6 +122,55 @@ class SearchApiSolrConnection extends Apache_Solr_Service {
 
 
   /**
+   * Allow extended queries
+   *
+   */
+  public function sendHttpRequest($uri = array(),$method='GET', $headers = array(), $content= '', $timeout = FALSE) {
+    if (!array_key_exists('Content-Type',$headers)) {
+      $headers['Content-Type'] = 'text/xml; charset=UTF-8';
+    }
+    $url = 'http://' . $this->_host . ':' . $this->_port . $this->_path . $uri;
+    list($data, $headers) = $this->_makeHttpRequest($url, $method, $headers, $content, $timeout);
+    if ($this->newClient) {
+      $status = 0;
+      $contentType = false;
+      //iterate through headers for real status, type, and encoding
+      if (is_array($headers) && count($headers) > 0) {
+        while (isset($headers[0]) && substr($headers[0], 0, 4) == 'HTTP') {
+          // we can do a intval on status line without the "HTTP/1.X " to get the code
+          $status = intval(substr($headers[0], 9));
+          // remove this from the headers so we can check for more
+          array_shift($headers);
+        }
+
+        //Look for the Content-Type response header and determine type
+        //and encoding from it (if possible - such as 'Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8')
+        foreach ($headers as $header) {
+          // look for the header that starts appropriately
+          if (strncasecmp($header, 'Content-Type:', 13) == 0) {
+            $contentType = substr($header, 13);
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      $httpResponse = new Apache_Solr_HttpTransport_Response($status, $contentType, $data);
+      $response = new Apache_Solr_Response($httpResponse, $this->_createDocuments, $this->_collapseSingleValueArrays);
+    } else {
+      $response = new Apache_Solr_Response($data, $headers, $this->_createDocuments, $this->_collapseSingleValueArrays);
+    }
+    $code = (int) $response->getHttpStatus();
+    if ($code != 200) {
+      $message = $response->getHttpStatusMessage();
+      if ($code >= 400 && $code != 403 && $code != 404) {
+        // Add details, like Solr's exception message.
+        $message .= $response->getRawResponse();
+      }
+      throw new Exception('"' . $code . '" Status: ' . $message. '::'.$url);
+    }
+    return $response;
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Call the /admin/ping servlet, to test the connection to the server.
    *
    * @param $timeout