SPECIAL CLINICAL EXAMINATION. 75 



In the horse at times it is seen in gastro-intestinal affections 

 with loss of appetite, probably due to some alteration in the 

 sympathetic nerve. 



Slow. Sluggish Pulse of Horse. 

 Taken with Marey's Sphygmograph-Art transversa faciei. 



The fast pulse (pitlsus frcqiiciis) is very common in dis- 

 ease. A very rapid pulse, though characteristic of no special 

 disease, is always a sign that the parenchyma of the heart is 

 affected, hence in severe diseases it is an index to the heart's 

 strength. Rarely in the horse does the pulse frequency exceed 

 80 beats per minute ; if it exceed 100, the prognosis is unfa- 

 vorable. In the ox a pulse of 100, and in the dog one of 120- 

 150 denotes severe illness. 



An ab nor mall}' accelerated pulse occurs : 



1. In all severe diseases, especially when attended by 

 fever. The frequency of the pulse, however, does not always 

 bear the same relationship to the height of the temperature ; 

 whether the pulse be accelerated or not depends upon the 

 fever's effect upon the heart, which dift'ers with the disease 

 present. In contagious pleuropneumonia of the horse, septi- 

 cemia, anthrax, and severe inflammations of the bowels and 

 peritoneum, the pulse rate corresponds to the height of the 

 fever ; in influenza and in strangles, the acceleration of pulse 

 is not marked, compared with the temperature. 



2. In painful conditions (severe injuries, fractures of 

 bones, abscess in hoof, etc.). 



3. In mental excitement (fear, anxiety). 



4. In severe hemorrhage. 



b. Rhythm. When the individual pulse beats are sep- 

 arated by intervals of equal duration, the pulse is regular 



