188 GENERAL INFLAMMATION. [BOOK II. 



this last will happen in cases of mere debility or 

 starvation also, when it is not too much to suppose 

 the animal may be deploring its hard fate. Con- 

 sulting the puke, however, will settle any doubt as 

 to which ailment the animal labours under ; for this 

 main characteristic of health will, in the latter case, 

 partake of his debility, and strike now hard and 

 then soft, a few beats each : in this case a feed of 

 corn, or water-gruel, would probably restore a 

 more healthful even pulse, whereas bleeding would 

 go to destroy the patient. It has been termed low 

 fever, though not very properly, and lent or, or 

 more accurately lenteur, (i. e. slowness, dulness, 

 heaviness) by the French veterinarians ; yet, having 

 at present no better name for it than ". low fever," 

 under that head, we will shortly bestow a few lines 

 on this species of systematic debility. 



The dung and urine are always good indications 

 of the state of the body : if the former fai\, fever is 

 the cause ; which subtracts also from the quantity of 

 urine, and if he stale small quantities at short in- 

 tervals, some internal inflammation has taken place. 

 [See Inflammation of the kidneys.'] In fever, the 

 mouth and tongue become drier than ordinary ; 

 and if any saliva be secreted, it is tough and ropy. 

 If the animal be in good condition, upon lifting the 

 eyelid an uncommon redness appears : if he be out 

 of condition, or in a low state, this does not always 

 happen ; so that this indication may be reckoned 

 among the uncertain symptoms. 



If the remedy and the symptoms of fever are 



