THE PULSE. 127 



especially where suet cause may be of a continuous kind, and 

 where the probability of its removal may exist ; or for the pur- 

 pose of preventing other animals contigouously situated from 

 being affected in a similar manner, as in glanders. A knowledge 

 of the cause of a disease is in every case a matter of importance, 

 but more especially in traumatic- diseases, or diseases which 

 have their origin from causes of a mechanical nature. 



In idiopathic disease, however, this in most instances will 

 be found impracticable. In idiopathic pneumonia, for example, 

 the removal of its cause is out of our power. The disease 

 may have arisen from exposing the animal to wet, and to cold 

 draughts of vrind. All we can do in cases of this nature, is to 

 remove the patient into more congenial circumstances, and cure 

 the disease in the best mode available. In like manner we may 

 remark upon nearly every cause of disease of an idiopathic 

 kind. The search for, and removal of causes is, we repeat, the 

 the most practicable in traumatic diseases. Injury is inflicted 

 upon a part endowed with life, but in what way does, or has the 

 external agent produced the disturbance ? Has the offending 

 body injured the part by entering into the structure, and there 

 remaining, as when a foot inflames, and lameness ensues from 

 the entrance of a nail into its sole ? If the injury be within a 

 fleshy part, are splinters of wood, or pieces of metal, or pieces 

 of glass within ? "Where practicable, the cause must be removed,, 

 and the patient so placed as to be in a position favourable ta 

 recovery ; but where the removal of the former is impracticable, 

 the latter wiU equally require attention. 



The PtJiiSE. — One of the principal guides indicative of the 

 internal state of the animal, whether in health or during the 

 existence of disease, is the pulse. "Whatever affects the organismi 

 v?ill affect the pulse. As the hands of a clock are indicative of 



