204 THE FARMER'S AND 



THE PULSE OF CATTLE. 



The blood flows through the arteries by the force 

 impressed upon it by the heart. This is felt in the 

 pulsations of the arteries, which correspond with the con- 

 tractions of the heart, and indicate not only the number 

 but the nature of these contractions, whether propelling 

 a greater or smaller quantity of blood. By the number 

 and the force of the pulsations, the degree of fever is 

 indicated with considerable certainty. The heat of the 

 mouth, and the base of the horns, will be important 

 guides ; but a much safer one, and more clearly ascer- 

 taining the extent and the nature of the fever, is the 

 action of the heart faithfully represented by the pulse. 

 Wherever the finger can be placed on an artery that is 

 not too thinly covered by cellular membrane of fat, and 

 that has some firm substance beneath, the pulse may be 

 felt; but most conveniently so where, at the back part of 

 the lower jaw, the artery comes from the channel between 

 the jaws, and passes over the edge of the jaw-bone, to 

 ramify on the face. 



The natural pulse of the full-grown ox varies from fifty 

 to fifty-five beats in a minute, but is quicker in milch cows 

 than in oxen, and particularly toward the period of par- 

 turition. A pulse much quicker than that here stated, 

 denotes fever or inflammation ; while one much slower 

 indicates sluggishness of the circulation, or debility. 



In another part of this volume, may be found remarks 

 on the pulse of neat cattle, to which the reader's attention 

 is invited. See index. 



