COERECT CONCLUSIONS. 309 



this is most conveniently done at tlie wrist ; in the horse, inside 

 the jaw bone, not far from its angle. 



772. — The number of beats per minute in a healthy horse, 

 in a state of quiet confidence, varies from 42 in the nervous 

 thoroughbred, to 36 in the slow cart horse. Fifcy indicates 

 fever, seventy-five something dangerous, and one hundred some- 

 thing that the horse cannot stand long. Exertion, fear, or 

 excitement will set the pulse going, far beyond its natural speed. 

 The horse must be approached slowly and soothingly, to get at 

 the truth, as a rough word or action will be apt to put ten beats 

 on to his pulse at once. 



773. — There may be the slow, weak pulse of the feeble heart 

 or oppressed brain ; the strong full pulse of fever ; the quick, 

 jerking, small, irritated pulse of great pain, as in inflammation 

 of the bowels ; the full yet obstructed and weakly vibrated pulse 

 of the gorged blood vessels, as in inflammation of the lungs ; or 

 there may be the intermittant pulse, with its sudden stops, as 

 from the too hasty administration of chloroform. 



774. — Tt demands a fine sense of touch, a quiet soothing 

 manner, and some experience to read the pulse well ; and then 

 there must be power to understand the language of the expressive 

 nostril, the ear, the eye, the flank, and the foot. To decide 

 correctly all that is wrong with a patient is perhaps the greatest 

 art to be attained by any physician ; it is especially so where all 

 has to be learned without the aid of artificial language. 





