161 



SIGNS OF DISEASE IN THE HORSE. 



The horse being unable to describe to us his feel- 

 ings, and tell us the seat of his pain, we are com- 

 ])elled to rely on such signs and symptoms as we can 

 discover, by various means, to determine the nature 

 of his ailments. A few of the more common symp- 

 toms, or signs of disease, will now be considered. 

 But to determine exactly the character of any par- 

 tic alar case of disease, the combination of symptoms 

 present will have to be considered. In this article, 

 however, important landmarks are presented, which 

 may be useful in guiding to correct conclusions. 

 Tlie Pulse. 



The pulse of a medium-sized, healthy horse beats 

 about forty per minute. The pulse of a small horse 

 may be a few more, or of a larger one, a beat or two 

 less. Age decreases the pulse slightly. Any con- 

 siderable increase of the pulse over forty per minute 

 indicates fever or inflammation, and other symptoms 

 must be looked for to determine the particular local- 

 ity of the disease. When great weakness ensues, 

 the pulse becomes fluttering. 



Xlie ]?Iembi*a,iie of the ]\^ose. 



This, in health, is of a light pink color; in fever 

 or inflammation, it is red. If of the lunsrs or air- 



