16 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



instance. The amount of intelligence in an animal depends 

 largely upon the amount and character of the brain circulation. 

 The composition of the blood is as follows : 



Water , 784 parts to 1000 



Corpuscles 131 parts to 1000 



Albumin, salines and 



extractives 70 parts to 1000 



Fibrin 2.2 parts to 1000 



Any material change in the blood either produces disease or 

 is the result of disease. If the solids increase the water de- 

 creases; if the solids decrease the water increases. An excess 

 of solids and a decreased amount of water is designated as 

 PLETHORA. Anaemia is the condition in which there is a de- 

 crease in the solids and an increase in the water. A plethoric 

 animal is said to have very rich blood ; the blood vessels are in- 

 creased in size, the pulse is stronger and the mucous membranes 

 are brighter. Plethora disposes the horse to certain diseases as 

 AZOTURiA for instance, and acute plethoric lymphangitis. In 

 these diseases there is an excess of the solids in the blood at the 

 expense of the water. Plethora itself, however, does not con- 

 stitute a disease. 



The symptoms of anaemia are: 



Paleness of mucous membranes. 

 Decrease in the size of the blood vessels. 

 Decrease in the strength of the pulse. 

 General debility. 



Liberal feeding, especially of nitrogenous food and moderate 

 work are the causes of plethora. Debilitating diseases, chronic 

 indigestion, and poor food, and certain parasites cause an?emia 

 of the body. 



Physiology teaches that fibrin is decreased in certain animals 

 and they bleed easily. Such a condition is called hemophilia, 

 where an excessive hemorrhage will occur from a small wound. 

 For example, a colt sweating blood is a case of hemophilia. 

 Cases of castration occur in which the colts are disposed to 

 bleed. Cats have more fibrin in their blood than any other 

 animal. It is said that you cannot bleed a cat to death. 



