229 



assimilation or proper nourishment. Wlien accompanied with fever 

 or loss of api>etite it is usually indicative of derangement of the 

 digestive organs. 



S)tudl jiidse is one where the sensation conveyed to the finger is one 

 of lessened diameter of the artery; it may be normal in frequency 

 or slightly increased. Generall}" due to exhaustion from work or 



disease. 



Full or strong 2^ ^(^•'ic is one which imparts a bounding sensation as 

 if from over-distension of the artery at each heart-beat. It is usually 

 increased in frequency. This character may be felt immediately 

 succeeding fast work, or in very plethoric horses when slightly 

 excited. Often it may indicate a general systemic disturbance or 

 disease of the lungs. 



TFeaA; ov feehJe pulse is one which is hardly i:>erceptible. This may 

 indicate organic disease of the heart, or denote general weakness 

 from loss of blood, prolonged sickness, starvation, etc. 



Quick OY frequent puJse is one where the heart-beats are more rapid 

 than normal, without an}^ special change in its character. It is 

 found in the early stage of nearly all inflammatory diseases. 



Hard or wiry pulse is one which is tense, incompressible, or vibrat- 

 ing, and is always increased in frequency. It usually denotes acute 

 disease of serous membranes, such as pleuritic, peritonitis, menin- 

 gitis, etc. 



Irregular pulse is one in which several pulsations follow in quick 

 succession and then a pause ensues. This may indicate disease of 

 the heart, or of the nervous system, sometimes observed in lingering, 

 exhausting diseases. 



Intermitient pulse is one where a beat is lost at regular intervals. 

 This is almost invariabl}^ an indication of disease of the heart. 



Venous xndse may be seen along the side of the neck in the jugular 

 furrow, and has the appearance of blood regurgitating in the vein at 

 each beat of the heart. It usually denotes disease of the heart, or 

 an obstruction to the flow of blood within the chest, from the pres- 

 sure of a tumor, dropsy, etc. 



DISEASES OF THE HEART AND BLOOD-VESSELS. 



In considering diseases of the heart we meet with many difficulties, 

 depending much upon the position which this organ occupies in the 

 animal. The shoulders cover so much of the anterior portion of the 

 chest, and often in very heavy muscled horses the chest walls are so 

 thick, that a satisfactory examination of the heart cannot be made. 

 Diseases of the heai*t are not uncommon among horses; the heart and 

 its membranes are frequently involved in diseases of the respiratory 

 organs, diseases of the kidnej^s, rheumatism, influenza, etc. Some 

 of the diseases of this organ are never suspected by the ordinary 

 observer during life, and are so difficult to diagnose with any degree 



