112 The Care of Animals 



An "intermittent" pulse drops a beat regularly, as, for 

 instance, if every fourth beat be wanting. 



The different conditions of the pulse are often strong 

 symptoms of certain diseases. A soft pulse indicates 

 bronchitis; a slow, full pulse, a disease of the brain; 

 an intermittent pulse, heart trouble. An irregular, 

 faint and fluttering pulse also denotes weak heart ac- 

 tion A hard, quick, bounding pulse usually indicates 

 acute inflammation. By practice the veterinarian be- 

 comes very skilful in diagnosing disease by means of 

 the pulse. 



TEMPERATURE 



The temperature of animals is taken by means of a 

 self- registering, clinical (fever) thermometer, inserted 

 into one of the natural openings of the body, usually the 

 anus or the vulva. The thermometer should alwaj-s be 

 shaken down before using, and allowed to remain in 

 the body at least three minutes. The temperature of 

 animals in a state of health ranges as follows: 



Horse 100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit. 



Cow 100 to 103 



Sheep 101 to 103 



Dog 101 to 102 



Pig 102 to 104 



Fowls 107 to 108 *' 



A rise in temperature, commonly called fever, de- 

 notes inflammation and a rapid oxidation of the tissues 

 of the body. A rise in temperature of six degrees or 

 more is likely to be dangerous, unless it is caused by 

 some local condition that is soon removed. In disease, 



