12 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AN1> TKEATMENT OF 



chronic forms. That whidi runs its coui'se quickly is called acute, and 

 it may run on and prove fatal as soon as twenty-four hours. The 

 chronic form may remain in much the same state for some time. Then 

 there are local and specific. Local inflammatory action in the feet, as 

 laminitis, or inflammation of the hock joint, and from punctures. Specific 

 inflammation contains a poison or virus. There are also other terms, as 

 sthenic and asthenic. Sthenic means strength ; asthenic, want of 

 strength The first can only occur in an animal in healthy condition ; 

 in such an animal as is working from day to day, the various organs 

 accing in a healthy manner, etc The asthenic may be generated in an 

 animal in vigorous condition. 



Signs of Inflammation. — Either in losal or diffuse there is generally 

 more or less fever, which is well marked in many cases. The pulse in- 

 creased, and there is fever before we have the well marked symptoms of 

 inflammation. In pleuro-pneumonia, in cattle especially, a thermometer 

 is of great use, as the increase of temperature can be detected some 

 time before the other symptoms. In diseases of the respiratory organs, 

 there is generally irritability, or the patient is irritable, or dull and 

 drowsy. 



Rigours or Shivering. — This is significant of congestion, and may last 

 for some time, even a day or two, before the inflammatory action is 

 noticed. When rigoui's are noticed, the animal should be noticed for 

 some time. An animal may shiver from drinking cold water ; but this 

 is different from the rigours produced by disease. Rigours, in some cases, 

 are very severe, especially in lung disease, and also diseases of the 

 bowels, due to changes in the system ; the digestive system is generally 

 more or less affected. In all inflammation, no difference where it occurs 

 (but there are exceptional cases), the bowels are costive, the feces pass 

 in hard pellets, etc. This may be noticed in a puncture of the food to 

 a certain extent. The secretions are more or less affected ; the kidneys 

 do not act in a natural manner ; they give off more solid matter than 

 in a healthy state. 



Circulation.— By this we can form some idea of the character of the 

 inflammation. This we call the pulse, which is very important in the 

 detection of inflammation and disease generally. This is produced by a 

 wave of blood sent by the contra';tion of the h3art, and the nearer the 

 heart the stronger the pulsation The pulse in the horse, as in other 

 animals, is of great importance ; it tells the number and force of the 

 heart beats. You can take the pulse in any superficial artery, but the • 

 sub-maxillary is perhaps the best, as it is only covered by the skin ; or 

 the radial artery, in case the horse keeps moving the head ; it is just 

 inside the fore-leg. Endeavour to keep the animal as quiet as possible, 

 for if you excite him, you will find the pulse increase several beats, and 

 after standing some time it will again fall. Place the finger transversely 

 across the artery, and you should have some idea of the natural pulsa- 

 tion. It varies in different animals ; slower in heavier horses, quicker 

 in highly nervous animals. It may vary five or ten beats per minute, 

 and the animal still be in perfect health. It runs from 25 to 40. In 

 cattle it is some quicker. You should take the pulse in healthy animals 

 and become familiar with it. There are various kinds of pulsations, as 

 the results of certain diseases — the quick, slow, large, hard, soft, frequent 

 and infrequent. The strong full pulse may be present, and consistent • 

 with good health ; exercise will change the pulse to considerable extent. 

 But if the animal is suffering from disease, and then the pulse is of a 

 wiry character, it is characteristic of the sthenic type of infiammation ^ 

 Suppose an animal has been standing in the stable, and is attacked with' 



