DISEASES OF THE HEART 463 



also be employed. The body should be well clothed and the legs bandaged, 

 while the strictest quietude should be insisted on. 



ENDOCARDITIS— INFLAMMATION OF THE LINING MEMBRANE 

 OF THE HEART 



This disease is said to be more frequent in the horse than the one which 

 has just been referred to. When it occurs in association with rheumatism, 

 it is more likely to end fatally in a short time than ordinary inflammation 

 of the pericardial membrane, in consequence of the liability of the valves to 

 undergo thickening, and the blood to coagulate upon them and upon the 

 surfaces of the heart's cavities. 



Symptoms indicative of endocarditis of the ordinary kind have been 

 differently described by different observers. 



The physical signs of the disease are : excited action of the heart, and 

 the presence of certain sounds which are described as endocardial murmurs. 

 The friction or rubbing sound which is recognized in jjericarditis will not 

 usually be present. 



It is somewhat remarkable that little or no pain is manifested during 

 the progress of the malady. The pulse at the commencement is frequent 

 and full in its beat, afterwards becoming feeble and irregular. Fever is 

 sometimes very pronounced, and at others it tends to assume a low subdued 

 form. The results to be apprehended are deposits within and upon the 

 valves and round about some of the orifices, thus interfering with the 

 passage of the blood, and leading to obstruction and the formation of large 

 fibrinous clots. These are not unfrequently broken up into small frag- 

 ments by the movements of the heart, some of which are carried along 

 the course of the circulation, and may thus lead to fatal obstruction by 

 blocking up vessels in important organs. 



The malignant forms of the disease, associated with the formation of 

 abscesses and ulcerations, have only now and again been recognized in 

 the horse. 



Treatment. — AVhen the disease is complicated with an attack of 

 rheumatism, salicylic acid and its salts must be resorted to and persevered 

 with to check the progress of the disease. Perfect rest must be enforced 

 and every form of excitement avoided. The bowels should be gently acted 

 upon as required by the administration of small doses of sulphate of mag- 

 nesia, and any manifestation of heart weakness must be met by the careful 

 employment of digitalis and ammonia. 



