14 INTRODUCTORY 



stables, exposure to cold and drinking ice cold water are common 

 causes of variations in the body temperatures of domestic 

 animals. 



Visible Mucous Membranes. — The visible mucous mem- 

 branes, as they are tenned, are the lining membranes of the eye- 

 lids, nostrils and nasal cavities, and mouth. In health they are 

 usually a pale red, excepting when the animal is exercised or 

 excited, when they appear a brighter red and somewhat vascular. 

 In disease the following changes in color and appearance may 

 be noted : When inilamed, as in cold in the head, a deep red ; 

 in impoverished or bloodless conditions of the body and in 

 internal hemorrhage, pale; in diseases of the liver, sometimes 

 yellowish, or dark red ; in diseases of the digestive tract (buccal 

 mucous membrane), coated; if inflamed, dry at first, later ex- 

 cessively moist ; and in certain gei-m diseases a mottled red, or 

 showing nodules, ulcers and scars. 



Surface of the Body. — ^^llen a horse is in a good condition 

 and well cared for, the coat is short, fine, glossy and smooth and 

 the skin pliable and elastic. Healthy cattle have a smooth, 

 fflossv coat and the skin feels mellow and elastic. The fleece 

 of sheep should appear smooth and have plenty of yolk, the skin 

 pliable and light pink in color. When the coat loses its lustre 

 and gloss and the skin becomes hard, rigid, thickened and dirty, 

 it indicates a lack of nutrition and an unhealthy condition of 

 the body. In sheep, during sickness, the wool may become dry 

 and brittle and the skin pale and rigid. When affected with 

 external parasites, the hair or wool becomes dirty and rough, 

 a part of the skin may be denuded of hair, and it appears thick- 

 ened, leathery and scabby, or shows pimples, vesicles and sores. 



During fever, the temperature of the surface of the body is 

 very unequal. In serious diseases or diseases that are about to 

 terminate fatally, the skin feels cold and the hair is wet with 

 sweat. 



When animals are allowed to " rough it " during the cold 



