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ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



The Appearances of Health. 



The appearance of the horse i?t health. — The fore feet are always 

 square and firm on the ground, but one of the hind feet may be rested on 

 the toe. It is noteworthy that the horse never rests a foreleg unless 

 there is something the matter with it. The head is always on the alert, 

 eyes wide open and ears pricking to and fro. The coat shines and the 

 skin may be rolled about on the muscles beneath, being loose and supple. 

 The pulse is about 40 ; the breathing about 15 to the minute ; the 

 temperature 100 ; the colour of the lining of the eye and nostril is salmon 

 pink. The bowels are moved frequently, on an average eight times in 

 24 hours, and the " droppings " are usually just soft enough to split as 

 they fall on the ground. They should not be coated with slime, and 

 their colour varies from golden yellow to dark green, according to the 

 nature of food. The urine is passed several times daily, in quantities of 

 a quart or more, and is rather thick in appearance and light yellow in 

 colour. Both horse and mare, when urinating, straddle, grunt and 

 assume a very awkward position, with the skin on the quarters wrinkled, 

 which should not be mistaken for pain. In the mule the droppings are 

 smaller, harder, and darker in colour, and the breathing will in all cases 

 be faster in the smaller sized animals. 



Appearaiices of health m the cajnei. — The head is erect, ears pricked 

 and eye wide open, except when chewing the cud, when it may be 

 temporarily closed, or nearly so ; the skin free from scurf or thickening 

 about the bends of joints ; the flank full and showing no hollow, and the 

 hump plump and not leaning much to one side. The pulse and breathing 

 are difficult to take and not very trustworthy, and the temperature is 

 about 99. The droppings are in small hard balls, and are passed without 

 effort ; the urine is clear and voided backwards by both sexes, the act in 

 the male occupying a considerable time. 



Appearajices of health in the ox. — Constant leisurely chewing of cud 

 when at rest, muzzle moist, skin loose and supple and the hair licked up 

 in places. The animal consorts with its fellows in Ihe herd ; if sick, the 

 ox frequently sepirates itself from others. The pulse about 50 ; 

 temperature loi — 102 ; breathing 15—20. The bowels are frequently 

 moved, and the droppings are naturally soft. The urine is clear and can 

 be voided by the male without stopping for the purpose. 



Temperature. — The temperature is most conveniently taken at the 

 anus. It varies slightly during the 24 hours, being higher at midday 



