488 



and cannons are often as hot as tlie rest of the body, but are some- 

 times cokl, which denotes a debility in the circuhition. The pulse, 

 which in a healthy horse is felt beating about 42 to 48 times in the 

 minute, is increased to 60, 70, 90, or even 100. The respirations are 

 increased from 14 or IG to 24, 30, 36, or even more. With the com- 

 mencement of a fever the horse usually has its appetite diminished, or 

 it may have total loss of appetite, if the fever is excessive. There is, 

 however, a vast difference among horses in this regard. With the 

 same amount of elevation of temperature one horse may lose its aj^pe- 

 tite entirely, while others, usually of the more common sort, will eat 

 at hay throughout the course of the fever and will even continue to 

 eat oats or other grains. Thirst is usually increased, but the animal 

 desires only a small quantity of w^ater at a time, and in most cases of 

 fever a bucket of water with the chill taken off should be kept stand- 

 ing before the patient, who maj^ be allowed it ad libitum. The skin 

 becomes dry and the hairs stand on end. Sweating is almost unknown 

 in the early stage of fevers, but f requentl}' occurs later in their course, 

 when an outbreak of warm sweat is often a most favorable symj)tom. 

 The mucous membranes, which are most easily examined in the con- 

 junctiva of the eyes and inside of the mouth, change color if the fever 

 is an acute one ; without alteration of blood the mucous membranes 

 become of a rosy or deep red color at the outset; if the fever is 

 attended with distinct alteration of the blood, as in influenza, and at 

 the end of two or three days in severe cases of pneumonia or other 

 extensive inflammatory troubles, the mucous membranes are tinged 

 with yellow, which may even become a deep ochre in color, the result 

 of the decomposition of the blood corpuscles and the freeing of their 

 coloring matter, which acts as a stain. At the outset of a fever the 

 various glands are checked in their secretions, the salivary glands 

 fail to secrete the saliva, and we find the surface of the tongue and 

 inside of the cheeks dry and covered with a brownish, bad-smelling 

 deposit. The excretion from the liver and intestinal glands is dimin- 

 ished and produces an inactivity of the digestive organs which causes 

 a constipation. If this is not remedied at an early period the undi- 

 gested material acts as an irritant, and later we maj' have it followed 

 by an inflammatory process, producing a severe diarrhea. 



The excretion from the kidneys is sometimes at first entirely sup- 

 pressed. It is always considerably diminished, and what urine is 

 passed is dark in color, undergoes ajnmoniacal change rapidly, and 

 deposits quantities of salts. At a later period the diminished excre- 

 tion may be replaced by an excessive excretion, which aids in carry- 

 ing off waste products and usually indicates an amelioration of the 

 fever. 



While the ears, cannons, and hoofs of a horse suffering from fever 

 are usually found hot, they may frequently alternate from hot to cold 

 in their temperature, or be much cooler than they normally are. This 



