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 indieates 

 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 temperatui'e 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 ....:.. ] 00 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit. 



Cow 100 to 103 " 



Sheep 101 to 103 



Dog 101 to 102 " 



Pig 102 to 104 " 



Fowls 107 to 108 



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, 



