DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 135 



different disorders, accounts for the variety of symp- 

 toms that are seen in different cases of it. 



As an illustration of what may happen in this line 

 from certain diseases of the heart, I will give a case 

 that occurred in my own practice. A horse had suffered 

 from several attacks of staggers for about six months, 

 and the night before I was sent for it had staggered 

 and fell while being driven to the carriage, smashing 

 the vehicle besides damaging another with which it 

 had collided. I began an examination by counting the 

 pulsations at the submaxillary artery in the usual way. 

 Waiting 3 or 4 seconds without getting a pulsation, I 

 was almost afraid the animal was about to have an- 

 other attack ; but still keeping my finger on the artery, 

 and noticing the unusual slowness of the pulse, I 

 took the count for several minutes. I found that the 

 number scarcely varied at all from 13 beats to the min- 

 ute scarcely J the usual number. I suspected heart 

 trouble and advised that the horse be kept in the stable 

 for a few days, saying that I thought it exceedingly 

 dangerous to drive it in such a condition. I also said 

 that it will be likely to drop dead if worked to any ex- 

 tent. At the end of a week I made another examina- 

 tion. I advised no treatment. At the end of six days 

 I made still another examination. I found no noticeable 

 change in the pulse or condition of the horse, which to 

 all outward appearance was healthy, and the appetite 

 was good. I again said that it would be dangerous to 

 work the animal and gave no hope of improvement. 

 But much sooner than was expected was my early prog- 

 nosis fulfilled, for the very next morning, about half 

 past seven, the coachman came running around to my 

 house for me, and when we got to the stable the horse 



