109 



instrument can be piircliased from any dealer in surgical instruments. 

 Even the best made may vary somewhat from being exact, but one 

 sufficiently true for the i3urpose is easily obtained. It should be self- 

 registering. The thermometer should remain in the gut for about 

 three or four minutes. Before inserting it you should be sure the 

 mercurj^ is below the minimum temperature. The end containing 

 the mercury should be pushed in gently, leaving only sufficient out- 

 side to take hold of when you desire to withdraw it. 



In describing the symptoms of "cold in the head" the method of 

 ascertaining an increase of temperature by placing the finger in the 

 mouth is referred to. The method requires considerable practice and 

 a delicac}^ of touch to become expert, but, when a thermometer is not 

 at hand, a little practice will enable a person of ordinary intelligence 

 to detect the existence or absence of fever. 



Respiration. — In health, standing still, the horse breathes from 

 twelve to fifteen times a minute; work or excitement increases the 

 number of respirations. 



The character of the breathing is changed by disease. Quick breath- 

 ing refers to an increased number of resi)irations, which may be due 

 to disease or to simple exercise. Difficult hreathing is always asso- 

 ciated with something abnormal, and is often a perfect guide to the 

 trouble. Stertorous hreatliing must not be confounded with the diffi- 

 cult breathing or noisy respiration of sore throat, roaring, etc. By 

 stertorous breathing is meant what, in the human being, is called 

 snoring, which is due to a relaxation of the palate and not to disease 

 of the part. In the horse it is generally associated with brain disease, 

 Avhen the consequent derangement of the nervous functions causes 

 the relaxation of the soft palate. Abdominal breathing is when the 

 ribs are kept as nearlj^ stationary as possible, and the abdominal 

 muscles assist to a much greater extent than natural in respiration; 

 the abdomen is seen to work like a bellows. In pleurisy, owing to 

 the pain caused by moving the ribs, this kind of breathing is always 

 present. Thoracic breathing is the opposite of abdominal breath- 

 ing — that is, the ribs rise and fall more than usual, while the abdom- 

 inal muscles remain fixed; this is due to abdominal pain, such as 

 peritonitis, etc. Irregular breathing is exemplified in "heaves," 

 and often during the critical stages of acute diseases. 



Secretions. — In the first stages of inflammatory disease these func- 

 tions are noticed with benefit. For instance, in the common cold at 

 the beginning of the attack the membrane mthin the nostrils is dry 

 and congested, which state gradually gives way to a watery discharge, 

 soon followed by a thick mucus. In pleurisy the surfaces are at first 

 dry, which can be easily ascertained by ijlacing the ear against the 

 chest over the affected part, when the dry surfaces of the pleural will 

 be heard rubbing against each other, producing a sound likened to 

 that of rubbing two pieces of paper one against the other. In dis- 

 eases of the respiratory organs the bowels are usually constipated, 



