176 



415- The number of beats of the pulse is not the only thing to be 

 considered ; the character of the volume of the vessel is to be taken 

 into account as well, for the pulse may be quick or slow, hard or soft, 

 strong or iveak, full and hounding, double or intermittent, corded or wiry, 

 irregular, thready, and running down. All these varieties have a 

 significance and value in the diagnosing of disease. 



416. In the horse, the pulse is generally felt at the jaw or inner side 

 of the forearm or fetlock joint. In the cow-, at the lower part of the 

 neck, opposite the shoulder joint, or at the inner side .of the knee, or 

 imder the root of the tail. In the sheep, pig, and dog, it is felt for 

 inside the fore arm or thigh. 



417. The Blood is a red fluid (of varying specific gravity in 

 different animals, eg., 1060 in the horse, ox, and pig), and of which 

 we recognise two kinds : — 



1. Arterial blood, of a bright scarlet colour. 



2. Venous blood, of a dark brownish-red. 



The difference in colour is due to the relative quantities of oxygen in, 

 each. Blood consists of — 



1. Liquor sanguinis, or //^s/z/r?. 



2. Red corpuscles — of which there are, it is estimated, about 



204,113,750,000,000 m the bod}' (Ellenberger). 



3. White corpuscles — the number of which is estimated to be 



in proportion to the red as i : 335. 



4. Some proteids, extractive and mineral matter. 



418. The Plasma (Liquor sanguinis) contains water, proteids (some 

 of which are capable of giving rise to fibrin), solids (not proteid in 

 nature), extractives (including fat), and inorganic salts. 



419. The Red Corpuscles are bi-concave disc-shaped cells, without 

 nuclei ; they are said to be about tj/oo of an inch in diameter ; and 

 it is to them that the red colour of the blood is due, from the iron 

 (containing the pigment hamoglflhin) which they possess, and which is 

 the oxygen-carrier to the tissues. The red corpuscles, when seen 



