108 



In the healthy horse the average number of beats in a minute is 

 about forty; but in different horses the number may vary from thirt}- 

 five to forty-five and still be consistent with health. The breed and 

 temperament of an animal have mvich to do with the number of pulsa- 

 tions. In a thoroughbred the number of beats in a given time is gen- 

 erally greater than in a coarse-bred horse. The pulse is less frequent 

 in a dull plethoric animal than in an excitable one. The state of the 

 pulse should be taken when the animal is quiet and at rest. Work, 

 exercise, and excitement increase the number of pulsations. If the 

 pulse of a horse be taken while standing quietly in the stable it will 

 be found less frequent than when he is at pasture. 



It is not within the scope of a work of this kind to give all the j)ecul- 

 iarities of the pulse; only a few of the most important will be noticed. 

 It should, however, be stated that if the reader would learn something 

 of the i)ulse in disease he must first become acquainted with the pulse 

 in health ; he must know the natural peculiarities before he can detect 

 the deviations caused by disease. 



By a frequent pulse is meant an increased number of beats in a 

 given time. An infrequent pulse means the reverse. A quich pulse 

 refers to the time occupied by the indi^adual pulsation. The beat 

 may strike the finger either quicMy or slowly. Hence the pulse may 

 beat forty quick pulsations or forty slow pulsations in a minute. 



The i)ulse is called intermitting when the beat now and then is 

 omitted. The omission of the beat vnsij be at the end of a given num- 

 ber of i)ulsations, when it is termed regularly intermittent, or it may 

 be irregularly intermittent. 



A large pulse means that the volume is larger than usual, and a 

 small pulse means the opi^osite. When the artery is easily com- 

 pressed and conveys the feeling of emptiness it is called & feeble pulse. 

 When a feeling of hardness and resistance is conveyed to the finger 

 it is termed a hard pulse. A double pulse is when the beat seems to 

 give two rapid beats at once. Besides other peculiarities the pulse 

 may include the character of two or more of the foregoing classes. 



In fever the pulse is modified, both as regards frequency and other 

 deviations from the normal standard. When a horse is quietly stand- 

 ing at rest, if the i)ulse beats fifty-five or more in a minute, fever is 

 present. 



Temperature. — The temperature of the healthy horse ranges from 

 about 99i° to 101i° F. The average may be placed at about 100° F. 

 The temperature is subject to slight alterations by certain influences. 

 A high surrounding temj)erature increases the animal temperature, 

 and cold tlie reverse. Exercise increases it. Mares have a higher 

 temperature than males. Drinking cold water lowers the animal 

 temi^erature. It is higher in the young than in the old. The process 

 of digestion increases the temperature. 



The most accurate method of taking the temperature is by intro- 

 ducing a registered clinical thermometer into the rectum. This 



