172 THE HORSE 



Ailments in many parts of the body owe their existence 

 to some defect in the functional capacity of the heart. 

 Normally the heart beats from 35 to 45 times per minute, 

 but this number usually is either greatly increased or 

 slightly decreased in various diseases. By placing the 

 ear to the left side of the chest wall, immediately behind 

 the elbow, the normal beat of the heart, or abnormal as 

 the case may be, can be distinctly heard. The number 

 of pulsations felt by pressure upon an artery in a given 

 time, say a minute, corresponds to the beats of the heart. 

 All affections of the circulatory apparatus are of a more 

 or less obscure nature, so far as the layman's knowledge 

 of disease is concerned, consequently it is not advisable 

 to enter into a consideration of any other troubles 

 directly or indirectly connected with this vital structure. 



