Veterinary Thermometry

Veterinary Thermometry

Veter£nary Thermometry. As yet, therefore, we cannot speak definitely regarding its value in Tetanus, though we are not inclined, from our limited exp...

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Veter£nary Thermometry. As yet, therefore, we cannot speak definitely regarding its value in Tetanus, though we are not inclined, from our limited experience of it, to have much hope in its efficacy. In the writer's "Extra Veterinary Therapeutics and Pharmacopology," which is now in the printer's hands, we have mentioned the doses of the drug employed, and other facts ot importance concerning its therapeutic value and preparations, etc. We are not aware whether others have employed gelseminum for the treatment of Tetanus, but if so, we should be glad to hear of the results. (To be continued.)

VETERINARY THERMOMETRY. BY A. E . MACGILLIVRAY, M.R.C.V.S., llANFF, N.B.

THE age in which we live is progressive; new things and new ideas are daily cropping up, some useful and some the reverse. In our own profession no more useful adoption than the comparatively recent introduction of the clinical thermometer could weI! have taken place. Once thoroughly adopted in anyone's daily practice, its use and value are alike indispensable; one feels quite at a loss if a good clinical thermometer is awanting! No doubt certain parties do not properly appreciate-or, perhaps, cannot properly make use of, or disbelieve in even using, the thermometer; this, however, does not detract from the proved benefits to be derived from a thorough, scientific, and practical introduction of the clinical thermometer into the daily routine of practice. r cannot allow myself to imagine that any member of our profession could be so far left to himself, as even to pretend that he could diag1lose any disease whatsoever by means of the thermometer ; it seems, however, that all members of the profession are not of this opinion (see article on Tuberculous Mtlk in the January number of this J ournal). I consider it quite an insult to the profession to insinuate that anyone of its members could ever dream of hanging the 0 1lUS of a diagnosis on "the mechanical one of seeing with his eyes the figures indicated on the instrument." The mere idea is preposterous, but quite compatible

The Veterinary journal. with the equally absurd assertion that the ., normal gauge" of the bovine temperature is 98'4' F. In Westmoreland, however, it seems (according to Mr. J. Harrison's observations) that the natural bovine temperature is actually 98'4' F.; if so, I feel bound to assert that Westmoreland is a place with a bovine temperature "all its own"! Away in the North here, our black rU ll ts cannot get themselves cooled down to such an extent; for, as a rule, in some thousands of observations, with at least a dozen different clinical thermometers, I have found the natural bovine temperature to be, as I have often said, 102' F., and notwithstanding all the extraordinary observations of Mr. J. Harrison, I shall continue to hold on by this fact! In the Veterinarian for 1880 and 188[, there occurred some difference of opinion as to the healthy bovine temperature; and in the number of that periodical for January, 188 I, I maintained that 102 F. was the natural temperature of the healthy adult bovine; that of juveniles being often a little higher. I observe, in last issue of the VETERINARY J OURN AL, that Professor Walley has noticed that healthy, robust bovine juveniles often run up to 103' F.; the Professor also disposes of Mr. J. Harrison's wonderful fallacy about the 98'4' F. temperature. Mr. Harrison's ideas about bovine thermometry are evidently quite at sea-in fact, he does not make a single correct observation in the whole of his remarks on this topic, and consequently the only inference to be drawn is that his experience is nowhere, and that it is quite evident he knows absolutely nothing about the matter! It is really quite" astounding" that parties will take it upon themselves to write critically (?) upon subjects of which they are utterly ignorant; and not only this, but they will actually wax quite witty, and quote any amount of Latin, forgetting that their wit is aimless and their Latin quite irreconcilable with the context. Returning to our object-in-chief, I may perhaps be allowed to quote an undoubted authority as to the thermometry of our domesticated animals; and I am the more anxious to do so, as it really seems but too apparent that the general ideas current on 0

Veterinary Thermometry. this subject are neither satisfactory nor correct. According to Krabbe, then, the following may be accepted as representing the temperature of our various domestic animals in healthy adultism :Horse ... 100'So F. Cattle ... 102° F. Sheep .. , IOf F.

Dogs ... Cats ... Pigs ...

102

0

F,

102'4' 102'5 °

F. F.

These figures I have found in some thousands of observations to be quite correct, and I beg to submit them to the profession as a sound and thoroughly reliable basis for all future clinicothermometrical observations. In our semi-domesticated animals, such as the came!- and elephant, the natural temperature stands, according to ]. H. Steel, thusCamel ... 99° F.

Elephant '" 97'6° F.

The great variation apparent in these two sets of figures shows how ridiculously foolish it is to suppose that one temperature holds good in all healthy adults-whether human or brute! For instance, if the natural temperature of the sheep were found in the human subject, a high and even dangerous degree of fever would exist in the latter. Reverse the process, and find a sheep registering 9S'~0, and we should find our ovine patient (if not defunct) at death's door! The truth of this was brought out during Mr.]. H. Steel's observations on camels, one of which, apparently in good health, ran up to 102'6° F., and dz'ed 1leX ! day from AlltllYaX. Some other member of the veterinary profession in or near Westmoreland might favour us with a few observations on this interesting topic, and either confirm Mr. ]. Harrison's assertions, o r otherwise convince him of his errors . .. We have always considered the camel a domesticated animal, and in the c ountries where it is employed it is in this respect quite as much so as the horse or ox. It is a. question whether wild camels exist in any part of the world. Even the elephlnt in India is perfectly domesticated.-ED.l·: J.