EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
155 
EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
SUBNORMAL TEMPERATURES. 
By E. F. de Jong, F. R. C. V. S., Edinburgh. 
An extract on the above subject which appeared in this 
week’s Record has led me to pen these few remarks. 
The use of the thermometer in veterinary practice cannot be 
over estimated, but we are apt to use it simply for the purpose 
of obtaining the amount of fever present. If after its application 
there is no indication of a rise above the normal we, as a rule, 
are quite satisfied ; but it seems to me that we neglect to note if 
the temperature be subnormal , which is a point of considerable 
importance and might greatly assist us in our diagnosis. 
I have recently had under treatment a case of “diabetes 
mellitus ” in the horse, in which a subnormal temperature was 
marked, on one occasion being as low as 98.2F and never rising 
above 99.5. 
If this temperature is constant in this disease it is a most 
important clinical fact, because this form of diabetes is not often 
met with in the horse, or at least I should say diagnosed. 
The symptoms were intense thirst, coat dry and harsh, 
general unthriftiness, frequent micturition, etc., (very similar to 
those of the ordinary form) but my attention was directed to 
urine which was high colored and thick, the very reverse of 
diabetes insipidus. 
I had some urine collected for me and it appeared very 
similar to the “golden syrup” of the grocer, but perhaps not 
quite so viscid. 
Upon testing it with Fehling’s solution it gave the character-* 
istic reaction of sugar, but as this solution cannot be relied 
upon, unless freshly prepared, and as I had not other chemical 
re-agents handy for confirmatory tests, I took some of the urine 
to the Royal Infirmary in this city, where it was tested and 
reported to me that sugar was detected in large quantities. 
