GENERAL EXAMINATION 9 



menced to suppurate. In cases where the temperature remains the same 

 it is called a continuous fever, and if it does not change more than 1° 

 (celsius) it is known as a remittent fever; but when it is found that it 

 varies greatly, oscillating between a very low, subnormal and a very 

 high abnormal temperature, it is called irregular or atypical fever. 



A constant and prolonged high temperature is very rarely seen in 

 the dog. The temperature, as a rule, in early stages of all acute diseases 

 rises ver}^ quickly, but it generally falls slowly as the disease advances, 

 notwithstanding the complications, and may reach a normal or frequently 

 a subnormal condition. In cases of septicaemia, which is rather a common 

 disease in the dog, we may see an abrupt lowering of the temperature 

 below the normal and continue so, the animal falling into a state of coma 

 and death follows in a short time. 



A fever, as a rule, begins with a chill or a number of them; this is a 

 shivering or quivering of the muscles and skin and finally of the whole 

 body. These chills come on at intervals. The rise in the temperature is 

 not always an accompaniment of the fever, as has been shown in cases of 

 septicaemia; we must, therefore, always take into consideration the other 

 symptoms of fever. These are: shivering, cold, increase in the number 

 of the pulse and respirations; the digestion is immediately impaired and the 

 urine is changed in quantity and composition. All the secretions and 

 excretions are altered from the normal and the nerve-centres show 

 increased irritability. The changes in the pulse and respiration are 

 fully described under the head of Examination of the Circulatory Appara- 

 tus. The changes in digestion are seen in the entire loss of appetite, con- 

 stipation, and increased thirst. The kidneys show the effects of the 

 disturbance by the decrease in the amount of the urine secreted, a much 

 higher specific gravity, and a decreased amount of the chlorides in the 

 urine, an increase in the amount of urates, and a high acid reaction. In 

 nursing bitches the milk is much lessened in quantity, the skin becomes 

 dry and firm, and the sebaceous glands almost cease secreting. The 

 nerve-centres show the effect by the dulness of the animal and the indiffer- 

 ence to surrounding objects or persons, and great restlessness and twitch- 

 ing of the muscles. If the temperature is high, the animal becomes 

 weak and falls away in weight very rapidly. 



A Temperature Below Normal (Subnormal) of the Body. 



A subnormal temperature is often observed in cases where the 

 crisis or highest temperature has passed and the animal is going on 

 toward recovery or convalescence. In the majority of cases, as the 

 temperature goes down the pulse lessens, the respirations become even 

 and regular, the appetite begins to return, and the animal shows more 



