TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER OPERATION 5 



Value of the Thermometer after Operations. 



Indications that a septic infection is already present or 

 that one has taken place after an operation are suspected 

 by the general dulness of the patient, loss of appetite, 

 haggard facial expression, a thready or almost imperceptible 

 pulse, and a rise of temperature. 



The thermometer is one of the most valuable aids to a 

 diagnosis of septic infection, although it must not be forgotten 

 that a very little excitement will in a few moments cause the 

 temperature of a healthy dog or cat to become raised even 

 as much as one or two degrees. 



In order to test this point, the author made a large number of observa- 

 tions on dogs, cats, and other animals.' From a series made upon 

 over 200 dogs, the normal average rectal temperature worked out at 

 101-5° F'> and from a series made upon forty-one cats the average 



ARNOLD a SONS PATENT, LONDON 



Fig. I. — Animals' Thermometer (Author's Pattern). 



FEVER 



i-i-K^^=i-i-w=i^=t-pqqq^q^- 



105 107 





REGISTERED. 



Fig. 1. — Canine Thermometer, showing Fever Markings (Author's 



Pattern). 



was 1017° F. It was a perfectly easy matter, by merely causing 

 the animal to struggle, to obtain a rise of temperature of a degree 

 (and even more) within three minutes, so that this fact, in an excitable 

 animal, must not be lost sight of. 



S^The normal temperature of the dog and cat, at rest and 



in health, ranges between 100° and 102° F., depending a 



little upon the age, condition, temperament of the animal, 



and also whether the temperature was taken after food, 



prolonged rest or exercise, and at what time of the day. 



1 Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, vol. ix., p. 301 ; 

 Schafer's ' Text-book of Physiology,' vol. i., p. 790 et seq. 



