THE PULSE. 207 



QUICK PULSE. 



This is always an indication that the animal is under 

 some excitement. This will vary in degree according to the 

 force of the exciting cause. The business of the veteri- 

 narian is to ascertain and remove this as speedily as the 

 circumstances will permit. We have above stated the 

 number of beats in a healthy and diseased state. The 

 heart may be excited to more frequent and also to more 

 violent action. It may contract more powerfully upon the 

 blood-vessels, and consequently drive the fluid with greater 

 force through the arteries, and the expansion of the coating of 

 the arteries will be greater and more abrupt. The quickened 

 pulse invariably indicates a tendency to fever and irritation. 



SLOW PULSE. 



This is an indication of an oppressed condition of the 

 heart's action, and accompanies diseases of an opposite kind 

 from those which are the concomitants of a quick pulse. It 

 proves that the malady with which it is connected results 

 from a deficiency of nervous energy. It is always a conco- 

 mitant of sleepy staggers. 



HARD PULSE. 



This is indicated by a thumping and jerking feeling 

 under the pressure of the finger, and at the same time 

 accompanied by a fulness in the flow of blood through the 

 vessels. This is a sure sign that a considerable degree of 

 fever exists, and in this case immediate and copious bleed- 

 ing must be had recourse to. 



SMALL PULSE 



Is indicated by feebleness in the beat and a feeling of 



