10 GENERAL EXAMINATION 



interest in its surroundings. In collapse there is a rapid fall of tempera- 

 ture, and the heart's action, as shown by the pulse, becomes weak and 

 fluttering and soon imperceptible; the mucous membranes are pale, and 

 the animal weak and even paralyzed. There is also a subnormal tempera- 

 ture in great hemorrhage, in acute and chronic diseases, in icterus gravis 

 (acute congestion of the liver, with yellowness of the mucous membranes), 

 in all acute diseases of the brain, in various cases of poisoning, in latter 

 stages of distemper, and in septicaemia, in infectious hemorrhagic gastro- 

 enteritis. 



In increase or decrease of the local temperature; increased heat of the 

 part is generally due to some injury or some surgical disease, and, as a rule, 

 has with it tenderness to the touch and swelling. A local heat can also be 

 felt in all inflammations that are not located too far from the surface of the 

 body. Coldness of any part indicates an impaired circulation in the part. 

 In all cases of collapse the extremities are the first to become cold, because 

 of the impaired action of the heart. In cases of compression of an artery 

 by ligatures, or tumors, pressing on the blood vessels, an embolus, or 

 thrombus, the part of the body that has thus lost its circulation becomes 

 cold from impaired circulation. Paralyzed extremities are always slightly 

 colder to the touch than active parts. 



