246 
TLLUSTRATKD STOCK DOCTOR. 
the feel of the skin, the ears, and the legs. A hot, dry skin in a horse 
generally accompanies a feverish condition. Cold cars and legs are a 
sign of serious disease. But the only scientific, that is, accurate j)lan, is 
to use what is called a “clinical thermometer that is, one, the bulb of 
which cau be bared and inserted into the rectum. After it has remained 
there two or three minutes, the mercury will accurately indicate the tem- 
perature of the blood. This iu health is 98 degrees, and any deviation 
from this, even of a few degrees, is a certain sign of disease. Those vet- 
erinarians who have practiced sufficiently with this instrument to become 
skilled in its use, declare it invaluable in their business, as affording them 
grounds for opinions about diseases which no other symptoms could. 
Thus it has been found that every disease has its own degree, a tem- 
perature at which it is either favorable or fatal. For example, if in that 
sometimes prevalent epidemic among horses, eerebro-spinal meningitis, 
the thermometer rises as high as 104 degrees, it is a certain indication 
that the horse will shortly die ; while in such a disease as inflammation of 
the lungs, the mercury will register 108 degrees, or 109 degrees, and the 
horse recover. If in gastric or typhoid fever the heat has been 103 de- 
grees, and falls to 100 degrees, and then suddenly rises again to its previous 
figure, the chances are terribly against the patient, no matter what the 
other appearances may seem to say. These few examples will serve to 
show how valuable the instrument may become in the hands of an intelli- 
gent person. 
-v. 
The Skin and Hair.' 
The skin in its general feeling and appearance is an important guide to 
the condition of an animal. A dry, scurfy appearance is a system of in- 
digestion, and liability to joint affections. "What is called “hide bound 
is a symptom of a general state of poor nutrition, arising from indiges- 
tion, improper food, worms, or a want ot proper exercise. The skin 
feels stretched and hard, as if too small for the body. 1 he condition 
known as “staring coat,” when the hairs stand out like bristles, is often 
the only symptom of a low state of health. Whenever an animal is dis- 
posed to shiver, with shedding of the coat, when exposed to moderate 
cold, or without such exposure, it is on the edge of some disease. A 
persistently staring coat, without other symptoms of disease, often indi- 
cates the approach of an attack of farcy or glanders ; and when with this 
are repeated shivers or chills, we may expect the strangles, weed, or other 
diseases with suppuration. When in an attack of disease the skin becomes 
covered with a cold sweat, the life of the animal is iu great danger. 
