FEVERS. 495 



by the families which form groups of the races, and by certain condi- 

 tions in individuals themselves. For example, a pricked foot in a 

 Thoroughbred may cause intense fever, while the same injury in the 

 foot of a Clydesdale may scarcely cause a visible general symptom. 

 In the horse, fever produces the following symptoms : 



The normal body temperature, which varies from 99° to 100° F., 

 is elevated from 1° to 9°. A temperature of 102° or 103° F. is mod- 

 erate fever, 104° to 105° F. is high, and 106° F. and over is excessive. 

 The temperature is accurately measured by means of a clinical ther- 

 mometer inserted in the rectum. 



This elevation of temperature can readily be felt by the hand 

 placed in the mouth of the animal, or in the rectum, and in the cleft 

 between the hind legs. It is usually appreciable at any point over 

 the surface of the body and in the expired air emitted from the nos- 

 trils. The ears and cannons are often as hot as the rest of the body, 

 but are sometimes cold, which denotes a debility in the circulation and 

 irregular distribution of the blood. The pulse, which in a healthy 

 horse is felt beating about 42 to 48 times in the minute, is increased 

 to 60, 70, 90, or even 100. The respirations are increased from 14 or 

 16 to 24, 30, 36, or even more. With the commencement of a fever 

 the horse usually has its appetite diminished, or it may have total 

 loss of appetite if the fever is excessive. There is, however, a vast 

 difference among horses in this regard. With the same amount of 

 elevation of temperature one horse maj'' lose its appetite entirely, 

 while others, usually of the more common sort, will eat at hay 

 throughout the course of the fever, and will even continue to eat oats 

 or other grains. Thirst is usually increased, but the animal desires 

 only a small quantity of water at a time, and in most cases of fever a 

 bucket of water should be kept standing before the patient, which 

 may be allowed to drink ad libitum. The skin becomes dry and the 

 hairs stand on end. Sweating is almost unknown in the early stage 

 of fevers, but frequently occurs later in their course, when an out- 

 break of warm sweat is often a most favorable symptom. The. mu- 

 cous membranes, which are most easily examined in the conjunctivae 

 of the eyes and inside of the mouth, change color if the fever is an 

 acute one; without alteration of blood the mucous membranes become 

 of a rosy or deep-red color at the outset ; if the fever is attended with 

 distinct alteration of the blood, as in influenza, and at the end of two 

 or three days in severe cases of pneumonia or other extensive inflam- 

 matory troubles the mucous membranes are tinged with yellow, which 

 may even become a deep ocher in color, the result of the decomposi- 

 tion of the blood corpuscles and the freeing of their coloring matter, 

 which acts as a stain. At the outset of a fever the various glands 

 are checked in their secretions, the salivary glands fail to secrete the 

 saliva, and we find the surface of the tongue and inside of the cheeks 



