SPECIAL CLINICAL EXAMINATION. 77 



c. Qualify. The pulse beats should be of equal vol-- 

 nme. A\nien this is true we speak of an equal pulse (pulsus 

 ■aeqtialis). 



The quality of the pulse varies with the kind of animal. 

 The- normal size, strength and hardness of the 

 pulse can only be learned by experience ; it can not be defined, 

 In the horse the pulse is large, strong and the artery only 

 moderately tense ; in the ox the pulse is smaller, not so strong 

 but the artery is tenser and may be rolled under your finger 

 like a hard rubber tube. In small animals the pulse is quick, 

 strong and hard. (See 74.) In dogs often it is inequal. 



According to whether a greater or smaller quantity of 

 blood is forced into the arterial system, we distinguish a 

 full {pulsus magnus) and an e m p t y (pulsus parvus). 



The pulse becomes empty when much accelerated and in 

 severe hemorrhages. In fatal diseases the pulse finally be- 

 comes imperceptible (pulsus inscusibUis), indicating cardiac 

 weakness or anemia. 



Small, Irregular and Inequal Pulse of Horse. 

 Marey's Sphygmograph. 



If the pulse waves are not of equal volume the pulse is 

 "Called inequal (pulsus inacqualis). This is a very impor- 

 tant symptom of cardiac weakness, where it is uniformly 

 associated with irregularity, and of valvular (uiitral) heart 

 disease. At times there exists a close relationship between 

 an irregular and an inequal pulse. A small wave follows 

 closely a larger one, so that there is a regular alternation of 

 weak and strong beats. It denotes beginning heart's weak- 

 ness. 



