473 



ence of fever as a disease and a temporary feverish condiiion wbicli is 

 the result of excessive worlc. Like the condition of congestion of the 

 lungs, which is normal up to a certain degree in the lungs of a racehorse 

 after a severe race, and morbid when it produces more than temporary 

 phenomena or when it causes distinct lesions, fever, or as it is better 

 termed a feverish condition, may follow any work or other employment 

 of energy in which excessive tissue change has taken place, but if the 

 consequences are ephemeral, and no recognizable lesion is apparent, it 

 Is not considered morbid. This condition, however, may predispose to 

 severe organic disturbance and local inflammations which will cause 

 disease, as an animal in this condition is liable to take cold, develop a 

 lung fever or a severe enteritis, if chilled or otherwise exposed. 



Fever in all animals is characterized by the same general phenomena, 

 but we find the intensity of the symptoms modified by the species of 

 animals affected, by the races which subdivide the species, by the fam- 

 ilies which form groups of tlie races, and by certain conditions in indi- 

 viduals themselves. For example, a pricked foot in a thoroughbred 

 may cause intense fever, while the same injury in the foot of a Clydes- 

 dale may scarcely cause a visible general symptom. In tbe horse, fever 

 produces the following symptoms : 



The normal body temperature, which varies from 9S^ to 100^ F., the 

 latter being usually the result of some temporary cause, is elevated 

 from 1 to 9 degrees. A temi^erature of 102° or 103*3 p. is moderate, 

 104° to 105° F. is high, and 106° F. and over is excessive. 



This elevation of temperature can readily be felt by the hand placed 

 in the mouth of the animal, or in the rectum, and in the folds between 

 the hind legs j it is usually appreciable at any point over the surface of 

 the body and in the expired air emitted from the nostrils. The ears 

 and cannons are often as hot as the rest of the body, but are sometimes 

 cold, which denotes a debility in the circulation. The pulse, which in 

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

 increased to GO, 70, 90 or even 100. The respirations are increased from 

 14 or 10 to 24, 30, 36, or even more. With the commencement 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 differ- 

 ence a^mong horses in this regard. With the same amount of elevation 

 of temperature one horse may lose its appetite 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 

 water at a time, and in most cases of fever a backet of water with the 

 chill laken off should be kept standing before the patient, who may be 

 allowed it ad libitum. The skin becomes dry and tlie hairs stand on 

 end. Sweating is almost unknown in the early stage of fevers, but 

 frecpiently occurs later in their course, when an outbreak of warm sweat 

 is often a most favorable symptom. The mucous membranes, which are 



