CHARACTER OF THE PULSE. 141 



forms of ansemia, and occasionally in fevers. The pericardial 

 bruits are very similar to pleuritic friction-sounds — that is, a 

 scratching or scraping sound. 



They are located in a sharply defined locality and do not occur 

 in direct rhythm with the heart-sounds, but seem to occur between 

 them. They are noticed in pericarditis as soon as there is any 

 fibrinous deposits present and there is not sufficient pericardial fluid 

 present to keep the folds free from contact with the heart. A 

 change in the position of the animal makes quite a difference in 

 the character of the bruit, and they may easily be distinguished 

 from endocardial sounds. The pericardial friction-sound is dis- 

 tinguished from the pleural friction-sounds from the fact that it 

 is entirely independent of the movements of respiration. 



Character of the Pulse. 



The pulse is best examined in the femoral artery inside of the 

 thigh, and it may also be felt inside of the forearm. In the exam- 

 ination of the pulse we must take into consideration its frequency, 

 its cadence, and its quality. 



The normal pulse varies greatly, according to the breed, age, 

 and size of the animal, and is rapidly increased from such causes 

 as physical efforts, fear, fright, pleasure, etc. The general pulse 

 is from 70 to 120 — large animals being less, and very small 

 animals having a correspondingly frequent pulse-rate. The rhythm 

 (cadence) should be regular in a healthy animal, and physical causes 

 niake it irregular; but an irregular pulse in perfect health is very 

 common in the dog; in fact, perfect rhythm is rare, as can be 

 easily demonstrated by taking the pulsations frequently, the irregu- 

 larity being well marked in very young or old animals. In normal 

 conditions the pulse must be similar in both thighs. 



We find a lessening in the pulse in some forms of poisoning, 

 following hemorrhages, in affections of the muscle of the heart, in 

 starvation, diseases of the brain, meningitis and hydrocephalus, 

 in hepatogenous icterus, also in collapse and in diseases charac- 

 terized by a continued high temperature. 



An increase of the pulse is found in all fevers, in cases of 

 valvular defects, in heart-weakness and paralysis or collapse of 

 that organ from continued high fever. When the temperature 

 increases the pulse rises. The pulse is irregular (arhythmic) in 



