THE EXAMINATION OF A SICK HORSE. 11 



temperament. The temperament is indicated by the gait, by tlie 

 expression of the face, and by tlie carriage of the head and ears. The 

 nature of the tempeiament shoiihl Ik* taken into consick'iatiou in an 

 endeavor to ascertain the severity of a given case of iUness, because 

 t!ie general expre.ssion of an animal in disease as well as in health de- 

 pends to a large extent on the temperament. 



THE SKIN AND THE VISIBLE MUCOUS MEMBRANES. 



The condition of the skin is a fair index to the condition of the 

 animal. The effect of disease and emaciation upon the j)liability of 

 tlie skin have been refeiied to above. Tliere is no part of the body 

 that loses its elasticity and tone as a result of disease sooner than the 

 skin. The practical herdsman or flockmaster can gain a great (k*al of 

 information as to the condition of an animal mciely by grasping the 

 coat and looking at and feeling the skin. Similarly, the condition of 

 the animal is shown to a certain extent by the appearance of the 

 muct>iis membranes. For example, wlien the hoi'se is anemic as a 

 result of disease or of inappropriate feed the mucous membranes 

 become pale. This change in the mucous membranes can be seen most 

 readily in the linhig of the eyelids and in the lining of the nostril. 

 For convenience of examination the eyelids can readily be everted. 

 Paleness means weak circulation or poor blood. Increased redness 

 occurs physiologically in painful c<mditions, excitement, and follow- 

 ing severe exertion. Under such conditions the increase of circula- 

 tion is transitory. In fevers there is an increased redness in the 

 mucous membrane, and this continues so long as the fever lasts. In 

 some diseases red spots or streaks form in the mucous membrane. 

 This usually indicates an infectious disease of considerable severity, 

 and occurs in blood poisoning, puri)ura hemorrhagica, hemorrhagic 

 septicemia, and in urticaria. When the liver is deranged and doe^; 

 not operate, or when the red-blood corpuscles are broken down, as 

 in serious cases of influenza, there is a yellowish discoloration of the 

 mucous membrane. The mucous membranes become bluish or blue 

 when the blood is imperfectly oxidized and contains an excess of 

 cail)on dioxid. This condition exists in any serious disease of the 

 respiratory tract, as pneumonia, and in heart failure. 



Tlie temj)erature of tiie skin varies with the tempeiature of the 

 body. If there is fever the temperature of tlie skin is likely to be 

 increased. Sometimes, however, as a result of poor circulation and 

 irregular distril>uti<>n of the blood, the body may be warmer than 

 nornud, whik> tiie extremities (the legs and ears) may be cold. 

 Where the general surface of the body becomes cold it is evident that 

 the small blood vessels in the skin have contracted and are keeping 

 tiie blood away, as during a chill, or that tlu* ln';ir< is weak :ind i- 



