SPECIAL CLIXICAL EXAMINATION. 79 



the pulse is weak and the artery empty. The "sluggish" pulse 

 (p. tardus) is noted in very lymphatic horses and is character- 

 istic only of aortic stenosis, when it is at the same time 

 small. 



■ A peculiar pulse is the dicrotic pulse where two marked 

 expansions can be felt in one beat of the artery. It is seen 

 in cases of lowered arterial tension combined with weak- 

 ened heart's action, and is, therefore, noted in long continued 

 fevers and in all forms of anemia. 



Fig. 25. 



Dicrotic Pulse— Horse. 

 Marey's Sphygmograph. 



II. Examination of the Peripheral Blood Vessels. 



Arteries. A strong pulse attending Avasting disease 

 and emaciation calls for an examination of the small super- 

 ficial arteries. An abnormally strong pulsation in the peri- 

 pheral arteries of small caliber is visible in the horse in the 

 branchings of the external maxillary artery. 



It appears in hypertrophy of the left ventricle especially 

 when the bicuspid valves are defective. 



Veins. The stateofdistentionof the veins is 

 of primary interest. The veins become prominent after any 

 acceleration of the heart's action in thin-skinned, fine- 

 haired horses; the condition, which is physiological, being a 

 temporary one. A permanent distention of the veins is path- 

 ological, and is due to an obstruction of the free flow of blood 

 to the right heart. It is mostly plainly visible in the jugulars 

 and their plexus on the head, other superficial veins (external 

 thoracics, milk veins, veins of the extremities) showing it 

 less on account of the edema usually accompanying the con- 

 dition. 



