76 CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



a. Frequency. By the frequency of the pulse 

 we mean the number of blood-waves (beats) felt in a 

 minute's time. There is a great variation in the normal 

 frequency, not only in the different species of animals, but 

 also in animals of the same kind. Many physiological con- 

 ditions have great influence upon the pulse-frequency : size, 

 age, sex, race, atmospheric temperature, time of day, pre- 

 hension or digestion of food, exercise, excitement, are all 

 factors. 



Large animals carry a slower (less frequent) pulse than 

 small ones; adults slower than young; females higher (more 

 frequent) than males ; well bred individuals, slower than 

 mongrels ; in summer the pulse is higher than in winter ; in 

 the morning slower than toward evening ; excited animals 

 show a more rapid pulse than animals standing at perfect rest. 

 In nervous animals (horses and dogs) the act of taking the 

 pulse often increases its frequency. 



Taking these physiological variations into consideration, 

 the following is the average pulse-frequency for the dif- 

 ferent animals. 



1. Horses in general 28 — 40. 



Warm blooded stallions 28— 32. 



Cold blooded stallions 28 — 36. 



Colts, two weeks old — 100. 



" four weeks old — 70. 



" six to twelve months old 45 — 60. 



" two to three years old 40 — 50. 



2. Asses and mules 45 — 50. 



3. Bovines 40-& 80. 



•+. Sheep and goats 70 — 90. 



*5. Swine 60—100. 



6. Dogs 60— 12C. 



7. Cats 110—130. 



:: 8. Fowls 120—160. 



*NOTE. The numbers refer to the heart's beat, as ihe pulse 



can not be felt in swine and fowls. 



