FEELING THE PULSE. 687 



dilatation of the blood-vessels, axd, also, by reason of the animal 

 bringing the foot more into use. 



See p. 241. 



Periosteotomy. 



Pulse, Feeling the. 



The pulse is usually taken at the lower jawj its character, 

 there, being better marked than at other convenient situations. 

 The artery (submaxillary) may be felt underneath the lower jaw, 

 a little in front of the fleshy part of the cheek. On passing the 

 fingers of the hand over the spot, two vessels can be distinguished 

 lying closely together j one, the duct which conveys saliva from 

 tiie parotid gland into the mouth; the other, the artery (the 

 facial) which mainly supplies the face with blood. The middle 

 finger should be applied so as to gently press the artery against 

 the inner surface of the bone. The ball of the thumb should 

 not be placed on the outside of the jaw, lest the operator might 

 mistake the pulsations of the artery of his thumb for that of the 

 horse's artery. 



The following description of observing the pulse at other places, 

 has been kindly placed at my disposal by Professor Vaughan. 



The pulse of the sub-zygomatic artery, which is the easiest of 

 all to feel, can be taken by placing the pad of the middle finger 

 gently on the horse's cheek, a little in front of the posterior edge 

 of the lower, jaw-bone, and about an inch below its joint. The 

 proper spot is about 4 inches below the ear. 



Very frequently the indication of the artery of the fore-arm 

 (the posterior radial) is the one adopted. This vessel is on the 

 inner side of the fore-arm, and may be felt by inserting the hand, 

 from the front, between the breast and fore-arm, and feeling for 

 the slightly proiminent head of the bone (radius) just below the 

 elbow joint. The place is described anatomically as being situated 

 just behind the insertion of the flexor brachii muscle. Care should 

 be taken, as the artery is but loosely attached, not to push it out 

 of position when searching for it with the fingers. 



Below the hock take the pulse of the artery (the great meta- 

 tarsal), which runs down the groove between the cannon bone and 

 the outer splint bone, by gently pressing a finger on the upper 

 third of this groove. 



The middle coccygeal artery, which occupies the groove running 

 along the lower surface of the tail, will also afford an indication 

 of the pulse. It should be felt close to the body. 



