PART II. 

 DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



CHAPTER I. 

 DISEASES OF THE PERICARDIUM. 



Examination. An examination of the circulatory system 

 in small animals is of importance in determining diseases 

 affecting primarily the heart and bloodvessels, and also for 

 assisting in the diagnosis of a number of acute infectious and 

 non-infectious diseases. 



A systematic examination from a clinical standpoint 

 includes the following: (1) The pulse, and (2) the heart. 



1 . The pulse is best examined in the dog by slightly press- 

 ing the femoral artery with the index finger, or the radial 

 artery inside the forearm. In small dogs this is often diffi- 

 cult, and in such cases the hand should be placed against the 

 thorax on the left side just behind the elbow, and at the 

 lower third of the cavity, where the heart beat is readily 

 distinguished. In cats and rabbits this method is the most 

 satisfactory. In birds the pulse is difficult to recognize owing 

 to the vessels being well protected and the heart very small 

 and surrounded with fat and the other organs. A phonendo- 

 scope is best used to detect the heart beats. Clinically we 

 must consider: (a) The frequency, (6) the rhythm or cadence, 

 and (c) the quality of the pulse. 



(a) The frequency of the pulse varies considerably in 

 different species of small animals and birds, and also in 

 individual animals of the same species.* The size, age, sex, 

 breeding, temperature, time of day, etc., all have a decided 



