28 PATHOLOGY. 



SYMPTOMS FUKNISHED BY THE CONDITION OF THE SURFACE OF 

 THE BODY AND EXTKEMITIES. 



In a state of health, if the animal is dry and not exposed to 

 extremes of temperature, the surface of the body and the ex- 

 tremities present a warm genial sensation to the touch of the 

 observer, but the variations of temperature in disease are great 

 and important. In severe inflammatory diseases, the legs, ears, 

 and general surface of the body may be cold ; the legs and ears 

 presenting a sensation, when handled, of being what is termed 

 " deathly cold." This symptom, if continuous, indicates grave 

 diseases or important lesions ; and if, in addition to the coldness 

 of the legs and ears, there be perspiration over the body, or 

 what is termed a cold sweat, the life of the animal is in great 

 jeopardy. 



In milder diseases, and those which run through their course 

 slowly, such as many epizootics, peculiar alternations in the tem- 

 perature of the surface and extremities are generally witnessed : 

 thus one leg may be cold while the other three are warm, or 

 tliree legs may be cold and one warm, one ear cold and the 

 other warm, &c. &c. This eccentricity is often increased by 

 the warm and the cold condition becoming more or less 

 suddenly changed in situation ; the leg which was warm in the 

 morning may be found cold in the evening, the cold leg or legs 

 being warm. 



The signs furnished by these alternations are indicative of 

 a depressed and erratic nervous force, and of a tendency to 

 metastatic congestions. 



A dry, scurfy a'p'pearancc of the sJdn is often a symptom of 

 indigestion, and of the presence of oxalic acid salts in the blood : 

 and what is called " hide-hound" a condition where the skin 

 seems to have lost its pliability and softness, is a symptom of a 

 general state of mal-nutrition, arising from indigestion, improper 

 food, worms in the intestinal canal, or a want of proper exercise, 

 &c. A staring coat often accompanies the above described con- 

 ditions, — very often a staring coat is the only symj)tom of ill 

 health. Whenever an animal is seen disposed to shiver, with 

 staring of the coat, upon exposure to moderate cold, or where 

 this tendency exists in an animal whilst not so exposed, in all 



