8 GENERAL EXAMINATION 



The following averages were obtained from a series of temperatures 

 taken from both normal and feverish animals: 1, in the bitch the average 

 difference between the rectum and vaginal temperatures was about 0.06 

 and 2, in the male the difference between the rectum and prepuce was 1.43; 

 some cases when the animal became nervous or excited, when the pre- 

 puce temperature was taken and the penis became erected, this increased 

 the temperature up to 40, so that it will be seen that it is not advisable 

 to take the temperature from the prepuce, as the difference may range 

 from 2 to 3 degrees. 



The average difference between the axilla and the rectal temper- 

 ature is 0.93 and between the inguinal temperature and the rectal is 

 0.81. The method for taking these temperatures is as follows: Place 

 the thermometer in the so-called axillary groove (arm-pit) and inguinal 

 groove (the hollow between the thigh and scrotum in males and between 

 the thigh and mammary glands in the bitch), firmly hold the ther- 

 mometer for five minutes so that the mercury end of the thermometer will 

 be covered by the folds of the skin. Where you have to take the tem- 

 perature in these two localities one degree should be added to the therm- 

 ometer reading. As a rule the temperature of the normal animal is higher 

 in the evening, and slightly higher after a hearty meal, violent exercise, 

 lying in the sun or near the fire. The rectal temperature, so-called body 

 temperature, is taken by means of a maximum or clinical thermometer, 

 the thermometer is slightly oiled, or the anus may be oiled and the 

 thermometer placed as far as possible into the rectum (allowing a small 

 portion of the instrument to protrude to facilitate removal) ; allow it to 

 remain for at least five minutes. Hard dry pieces of excrement or a 

 highly inflammatory condition of the bowels may prevent the ther- 

 mometer from giving the exact temperature of the body. In severe cases 

 it is always advisable to take the temperature at least three times daily, 

 morning, noon and in the evening, and care must be taken to carefully 

 note any change in the reading of the thermometer. The temperature 

 must be kept on a temperature chart, and can be watched with a great 

 deal more certainty than trusting to the memory. Any change in the 

 temperature as indicated on the chart, either rise or fall, indicates some 

 change in the animal's condition, and should be considered a symptom. 

 As soon as we detect an increase of the temperature of the body above 

 the normal that we know is not due to overheating or too great exertion, 

 we define it under the name of fever. 



The course and severity of a fever are regulated according to the 

 amount and character of the fever-producing substances (pyrogenes), 

 which have penetrated into the blood-circulation. In some cases we may 

 have a rapid increase in the temperature (fever-paroxysm) ; this is often 

 observed in the early stages of distemper or where some tissue has com- 



