ANDiAL ther:mometry. 17 



and equable surtace-temperature, with a tolerably soft and 

 pliant condition of the skin, free from excess of scales, ' scurf,' 

 and hair not standing erect, are sufficiently indicative of health ; 

 that marked and persistent deviation from one or all of these 

 conditions is generally sufficient to attract attention as indica- 

 tive of at least functional disturbance. 



As a sequel of disturbed nervous force, and as accompanying 

 capillary congestion, we have to recollect the occurrence of 

 irregularly distributed surface-temperature — indicated through 

 the touch — either of the body or the extremities ; and that 

 this is a feature well enough marked during the course of 

 many diseases, and that accompanied with slight rigor and 

 staring of the coat, it is the chief feature in the greater 

 number of the slighter or more ephemeral febrile attacks. 



Probably from time immemorial — certainly from a very 

 remote period — it has been recognised that many diseased 

 conditions of the animal body were associated or accompanied 

 with an increase in the animal heat ; it is only in very recent 

 years, however, that instrumental means of measuring this 

 thermal disturbance were adopted in veterinary practice. 



I am aware that there are some amongst the veterinary sur- 

 geons of the presentday who, lightly esteeming the aids furnished 

 by the thermometer, are fain to believe that its use has made 

 little progress in veterinary medicine, and that the deductions 

 to be obtained from its readings are misleading and unreUable. 

 That it is gradually but steadily becoming more extensively 

 employed as an aid to diagnosis is most certainly known ; and 

 I am satisfied that those who have once adopted it will not 

 willingly dispense with its use. It gives confidence to the 

 observant practitioner from stage to stage in the disease ; 

 while the variations observed in the temperature are amongst 

 the most significant indications by which he is directed in 

 foiTLiing his estimate of the character and development of the 

 disease, and in choosing his remedies with which to meet it, or 

 by wliich to fortify his patient to pass successfully through it. 

 To reap the full benefit, however, from the emplo}T2ient of 

 animal thermometry, it has to be borne in mind that it must 

 be carried through the entire course of the disease with care 

 and scrupulous ^attention. It ought to be employed twice 

 daily, and each day at the same period of the day. 



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