56 PHYSIOLOGICAL REMARKS. 



examination various questions may have been asked quietly of 

 the attendant, and answered, relative to the urine, fasces, cough, 

 appetite, &c. ; after which the nose and ears should be gently 

 examined with the hand, and then, patting the dog very gently 

 on the head, place the hand on the region of the heart, behind 

 the shoulder point, and ascertain whether it beats regularly, and 

 at its usual velocity of from ninety to a hundred beats per minute. 

 The ear or the stethoscope may then be applied to the chest, that 

 by these means the examiner may ascertain whether the breathing 

 is natural, or attended with an increase of mucus in the air -tubes. 

 After this carry the hand quietly to the belly, and press gently 

 to ascertain whether there is any hardness or tenderness, and more 

 especially if the muscles leading from the chest to the pelvis on 

 each side the navel have the cord-like feel which they assume in 

 most of the abdominal affections. If, after this examination, you 

 should have failed in detecting the seat of the disease, then per- 

 suade the dog to come out of his kennel, and you will probably 

 find that there is palsy, or rheumatism of the limbs, which might 

 easily have escaped your observation while quietly remaining in 

 kennel. 



Having, then, carefully made up your mind as to the nature of 

 the malady, the next thing to be done is to proportion your 

 treatment to the disease, always remembering that it is better to 

 do too little than too much, and that the miedecine expectante of 

 the French, though often "allowing the patient to die, is better 

 than actually causing his death ; and this, if true in the human 

 subject, is still more true with dogs, where we have much less to 



