112 The Diseases of Animals 
An “intermittent” pulse drops a beat regularly, as, for 
instance, if every fourth beat be wanting. 
The different conditions of the pulse are often strong 
symptoms of certain diseases. A soft pulse indicates 
bronchitis; a slow, full pulse, a disease of the brain; 
an intermittent pulse, heart trouble. An irregular, 
faint and fluttering pulse also denotes weak heart ac- 
tion A hard, quick, bounding pulse usually indicates 
acute inflammation. By practice the veterinarian be- 
comes very skilful in diagnosing disease by means of 
the pulse. 
TEMPERATURE 
The temperature of animals is taken by means of a 
self-registering, clinical (fever) thermometer, inserted 
into one of the natural openings of the body, usually the 
anus or the vulva. The thermometer should always be 
shaken down before using, and allowed to remain in 
the body at least three minutes. The temperature of 
animals in a state of health ranges as follows: 
Horse . rade ce. 100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Cow jc 100 to 103 et a 
Sheep... . . 101 to 103 ee nt 
DOG se se sn ee 101 to 102 pe i 
Pig oe. 4 1 102 to 104 i 
Fowls . ; . 107 to 108 vs oe 
A rise in temperature, commonly called fever, de- 
notes inflammation and a rapid oxidation of the tissues 
of the body. <A rise in temperature of six degrees or 
more is likely to be dangerous, unless it is caused by 
some local condition that is soon removed. In disease, 
