AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY IN THE HORSE. 1 29 



Here, in very condensed form, are three similar cases observed 

 among horses in hospital, or in the external clinique. 



Case 2. — Ten-year-old entire horse. When submitting this animal 

 for examination the owner gave the following information. The horse 

 was "soft" in work, soon got short of breath, and stopped when 

 ascending hills. 



On auscultating the heart we noted a remarkable change in the 

 sounds. The first was strong, prolonged, and with a tendency to re- 

 duplication. The apex-beat was violent. The short pause was followed 

 by a murmur which replaced the second sound, and was prolonged 

 throughout the long pause. This diastolic murmur was soft, clearest 

 opposite the base of the heart, less marked towards the lower parts of 

 the chest and around the apex. 



The pulsations were normal in number, the artery was tense, the 

 pulse very strong, bounding, and slightly dicrotic. The pulse could be 

 visibly counted at the subzygomatic artery. It was also very readil}- 

 felt at the digital artery. Pulsation of the gluteal ? {arterc fessicre) 

 arteries was visible towards the centre of the quarter on either side. 

 Auscultation of the posterior aorta failed to reveal any abnormal sound. 

 A jugular pulse could be detected. The animal was emphj-sematous. 



Case 3. — A twelve-year-old gelding. For some time the animal's 

 appetite had been bad. The driver stated that it did not stop during 

 work, but breathed very heavily. On examining the heart we detected 

 a murmur during the second sound, and the pause was most distinctly 

 marked opposite the base. Furthermore, each third heart-beat was 

 followed by an intermittency lasting from three to four seconds. The 

 pulse was strong and bounding. It could be seen at the subz\gomatic 

 arter}-, where the vessel passes under the ridge of the maxilla. 



Case 4. — A mare about fifteen years old. A week before, this 

 mare, which usually had an excellent appetite, ate badly, and left a 

 portion of her food. 



Clinical examination discovered no disturbance of the digestive 

 apparatus. On auscultating the heart a strong, rough, prolonged 

 murmur was heard, to which succeeded a normal sound — at first 

 regarded as the second heart-sound, but at the moment that the 

 normal sound occurred the ear clearly perceived the sensation of 

 systolic contraction. What had been regarded as the second sound 

 was therefore in reality the first. I heard in succession the first sound, 



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