61 



THE PULSE. 



IT really is unpardonable in some freshmen taking 

 on themselves to decide on the complaint of a horse, 

 and then recommending a treatment for him, without 

 ever feeling the pulse. It is cruel to abuse, and half 

 destroy a horse's constitution, in the dark, in this 

 way. There can be no difficulty in " catching" the 

 pulse, if you put your two forefingers under the upper 

 part of the lower jaw, and press the artery very gent- 

 ly against the bone. If the channel is not clean, but 

 much filled up and fleshy, a hard pulse may feel softer 

 than'it actually is ; but taking out your watch will 

 always tell you if it is too quick ; and, after feeling 

 one or two horses under disease, you may be able in 

 some degree to allow for this thickness of skin and 

 flesh. 



Thirty-five to near forty is the standard pulse"" 

 (young colts two or three quicker) ; and when it beats 

 about this number in the minute, going off with a full 

 bounding feel, it is the pulse of strong health in a 

 strong constitution. Fort-five is too quick ; thirty, 

 too slow. When the pulse is under forty-five, there 

 can be no active inflammation that will not quickly 

 show itself. 



When it is weak and not full, it bespeaks more or 

 less of debility, according to other symptoms that 

 may be present. 



When it rises to sixty, there may be fever, or 

 some local inflammation, according as other symptoms 

 are present. 



* This is correct as regards English andothet 1 large horses, but in the little 

 Arab, the healthy pulse is from forty to forty-five, and in young colts two or 

 three quicker. ED. 



