COLIC OR GRIPES. 115 



(1) Pulse Natural. When in health, the pulsa- 

 tions or strokes are from thirty-six to forty in a 

 minute ; those of large, heavy horses being slower than 

 those of the smaller ; and those of old ones, slower 

 than those of young animals. When either are just off 

 a quick pace, the strokes increase in number; as they 

 do if he be alarmed or animated, by the familiar cry 

 of the hounds. 



(2) Pulse very quick and small. Fever, if the simple 

 or common kind, usually increases the pulsations to 

 double the healthy number. As the fever increases in 

 violence, and particularly in cases of inflammation of 

 the bowels, the pulse beats still higher, and reaches to 

 a hundred in a minute, or more. To ascertain either 

 state, the attendant should apply the points of his fingers 

 gently to the artery which lies nearest the surface. 

 Some prefer consulting the temporal artery, which is 

 situated about an inch and a half backward from the 

 corner of the eye. Others again, and they are the 

 greater number, think it best to feel it underneath the 

 edge of the jaw bone, where the facial artery passes on 

 under the skin only to the side of the face. In either 

 case, too great pressure would stop the pulsation 

 altogether ; though by so trying the artery against the 

 iaw bone, will prove whether it be in such a rigid state 

 of excitement as attends high fever; or elastic and 

 springy, slipping readily from under the finger, as it does 

 when health prevails, and the strokes follow each other 

 regularly. The presence of high fever is further indi- 

 cated by a kind of twang, or vibration, given by the 

 pulse against the finger points, resembling much such 

 as would be felt were we to take hold of a distended 

 whip cord or wire between the fingers and cause it 

 to vibrate like a ficMlestring, sharply Whereas, in 



11* 



