Cardiac Output in Horses

Abstract

IN a previous communication we described the determination of the cardiac output in cattle by an injection method using T.1824 as the intravascular indicator¹. The same method was used to determine the cardiac output in horses. The technique used for obtaining arterial blood samples from the brachial artery of horses was that described by Fisher², and for convenience the serial arterial blood samples were collected at 2-sec. intervals. Duplicate determinations of the cardiac output were carried out on 10 adult horses which, so far as could be ascertained, had normal cardio-vascular systems. The 10 horses on which the determinations were made were not at the time working or getting regular exercise. They were allowed to settle in their surroundings for some time prior to making a determination, and during the manipulative procedures excitement of the subjects was avoided as far as possible. Pulse-rates were taken during the injection of the dye and collection of arterial blood samples, and during this procedure the pulse-rates remained unaltered and all were within the range of 35–55 beats per minute. Table 1 shows the results of duplicate determinations on 10 horses. The mean value obtained for the cardiac output of 74 ± 9 ml./min./kgm. body-weight is similar to that determined by Zuntz and Hagermann³ of 75 ml./min./kgm. bodyweight for resting horses. These values for the horse are much lower than the value previously obtained in cattle of 113 ± 11 ml./min./kgm. body-weight¹ and that of sheep found by Schambye⁴ and the goat found by Barcroft et al. ⁵ (1919).