78 



CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



2. In painful conditions (severe injuries, fractures of 

 bones, abscess in hoof, etc.). 



3. In mental excitement (fear, anxiety). 



4. In severe hemorrhage. 



b. Rhythm. When the individual pulse beats are sep- 

 arated by intervals of equal duration, the pulse is regular 

 (pulsus regularis). In the- dog and, according to Cadeac, 

 frequently in mules and asses, the pulse is often irregular and 

 intermittent. 



Fig. 23. 



Normal Pulse— Horse. 

 Marey's Sphygmograph— Art. trans, faciei. 



The rhythm of the irregular and of the intermittent pulse 

 is abnormal, i. e., arhythmic. 



When the pulse is irregular the intervals between the 

 individual pulse beats are of unequal duration. 



This is due to lack of innervation of the heart, as well 

 as to exhaustion of the organ. If the pulse of the horse 

 exceeds 80 it is usually irregular. Irregularity is also ob- 

 served in valvular diseases of the heart, and in myocarditis. 



The pulse is intermittent when a beat fails now and 

 then. When regularly intermittent, a certain beat can nqt. 

 be felt, as for instance, every fourth or fifth pulse wave ; when 

 irregularly intermittent there is a lapse which does not occur 

 between any certain beats. 



The intermittent pulse is commonly physiological, and 

 seen in perfectly healthy horses and dogs, where it disappears 

 after exercise and, therefore, probably due to lacking innerva- 

 tion. Pathologically it appears in chronic hydrocephalus 

 (dummies), severe gastric troubles, and during convales- 



