The heart beat, as it is called, may be felt by placing the finger over any of the superficial arteries. The submaxillary artery as it passes under the edge of the lower jaw close to the bone is a convenient vessel for the purpose.] =Taking the Temperature.=--While the heat of the body may be surmised by touch and feeling this is not a reliable guide as to the temperature. A self-registering thermometer, inserted into the rectum, is the only reliable means for getting this desirable information. In a state of health the temperature of the horse ranges from 100° to 102.5°. When the temperature rises, inflammation is indicated. A fall in temperature below normal denotes loss of strength, vitality, and death. If the temperature rises three or four degrees above normal, the case is serious, and a rise of five or six is very dangerous. Animals seldom survive when the rise reaches above 107° or 108°. A good clinical thermometer should be in the possession of every stockman. It costs but little, and its aid in recognizing and treating disease is helpful, if not absolutely indispensable. =Taking the Respiration.=--In breathing two movements are observed--taking in and sending out the air. In health the respiration is usually constant, ranging from 10 to 14 in the horses, and from 15 to 20 in cattle. Breathing is faster in young animals; and exercise increases the number of respirations per minute. Any disease of the respiratory organs will cause the breathing to be short and rapid and labored. If the number of respirations seem more than normal, some disturbance is indicated. If the pulse is faster at the same time, illness is at once indicated, and the trouble should be sought at once. THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE The first effort in treating disease is to remove the cause. This is sometimes done very easily. Mange and lice are quickly destroyed by washes and disinfectants. Bright, fresh, wholesome food and pure water easily replace bad food and water to the permanent good of the stock. Cattle ticks quickly disappear when the grease brush is applied. And so in every direction you take to fight the disease: find the cause and then remove it, and half the battle is fought. If disease-producing germs cannot be killed at the moment, it is still possible to diminish their number or to modify their virulence. Thus to open an abscess is to remove the pus-producing bacteria, and hence to hasten recovery. To wash a wound or open sore with antiseptics is the simplest way to remove, diminish, and destroy the evil of the sore. [Illustration: HOW HEAT AFFECTS GROWTH At the end of 24 hours in _a_ but seven bacteria have developed, the temperature being 50 degrees. In _b_ 700 have developed in the same time, but in a temperature of 70 degrees.]