DIAGNOSING AILING HORSES 293 



The value of each of these indications will be dealt 

 with separately, and in the reverse order. 



Temperature. When the temperature of a sick 

 horse is found to be above normal, it is said to have 

 a fever. Many of these fevers are contagious and 

 require especial care ; e.g., influenza, glanders, strangles, 

 etc. To ascertain whether a horse is feverish or not, 

 a clinical thermometer is inserted in the rectum, and 

 as the normal temperature of a horse is 99-5 (Fahr.), 

 an excess of 2 to 8 F. indicates that the horse is 

 feverish. The higher the temperature, the more urgent 

 is the case. 



Pulse-beats vary in many respects, and may be 

 grouped as follows : (a) Frequent and Infrequent. 

 This refers simply to the number of beats per minute, 

 and when the frequency rises ten to twenty beats per 

 minute above normal, this may indicate feverishness ; 

 e.g., influenza, strangles, epizootic lymphangitis (weed), 

 or possibly an ailment like flatulent colic. Infrequent 

 and irregular pulses are often associated with diseases 

 of the heart and brain. 



(b) Quick or slow beats. These do not refer to the 

 number per minute at all, but simply to the suddenness 

 (jerkiness) or slowness with which the beat takes 

 place. Quick beats are noticeable in cases of anthrax, 

 laminitis, spasmodic colic, etc. 



(c) Hard or soft pulses. Some pulses yield to the 

 pressure of the fingers, and are called "soft," while 

 those which only yield to the pressure of the fingers 

 with difficulty, are called "hard." Hard pulses are 

 found in such cases as epizootic lymphangitis, laminitis 

 (fever of the feet), and enteritis. Weak pulses are 

 found in animals suffering from diarrhoea, superpurga- 

 tion, etc. 



