Introduction to the Study of Disease 



applicable to the dog. The temperatures should 

 be taken about the same hours night and morning, 

 the evening temperature being normally slightly 

 higher. The influence of drugs on the regula- 

 tion of the bodily heat, though not affording 

 control of febrile conditions, do unquestionably 

 assist in diminishing the excessive oxidation of 

 the body, which is largely influenced by its 

 nervous mechanism. Fevers are not curable, but 

 can be directed towards a favourable issue by 

 acting upon the excretory organs with various 

 medicinal agents. For instance, the bowels may be 

 roused to activity by some saline, such as Epsom 

 salts ; the kidneys with a diuretic agent such as 

 nitrate of potash (salt petre) ; whilst the activity 

 of the skin may be markedly increased either by 

 clothing the body with woollen rugs, or through 

 the administration of a diaphoretic drug, the 

 secretion of sweat assisting to unload the economy 

 of its deleterious products. 



The Respirations 



The respiratory movements are liable to con- 

 siderable variations, not only in health but also 

 in disease, and the variability of such movements 

 is sometimes increased proportionately to the 

 pulsations. Age, sex, temperament, exercise, and 

 external surroundings in general, have a marked 

 influence over the respiratory movements, whilst 



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