MYOCARDITIS — CARDIAC INTERMITTP:NCY. 363 



On again exercising the horse the same pecuharities were noted. 

 The intermittency recurred two or three minutes after exercise was 

 stopped, and again disappeared some minutes later. 



6g. A ten-year-old gelding, brought for examination on the i6th 

 January, 1896. 



Had been in the hands of the same owner during four years, doing 

 regular work delivering parcels, sometimes at a walk, sometimes at a 

 trot. Had been healthy for that period. Both at work and in the 

 stable this horse coughed rather frequenth*. A month before examina- 

 tion it began rapidly to lose breath, and to cough more than usual. 



The patient was emphysematous. It showed a distinctly double 

 flank movement, and had a short, dry, paroxysmal cough. Ausculta- 

 tion of the lungs revealed sibilant rales and a dry crepitant sound On 

 auscultating the heart, every fourth or fifth contraction was followed 

 by a pause equal in length to two cardiac cycles. The pulse showed 

 similar characters. 



This intermittenc\' disappeared during exercise, but returned after 

 a few minutes' rest. 



Iodide of potassium and arsenical preparations were prescribed, to 

 be continued for a week and interrupted for a similar period. 



70. A seven-year-old entire horse, left in hospital 31st July, 1897. 

 Three weeks before had been attacked with pneumonia, which had 



not been detected until in an advanced stage, and had left troubles 

 regarded as due to heart disease. 



On entry the animal's general condition was satisfactory. There 

 were no visible signs of disease. Respiration was normal. The pulse 

 was rapid, small, and intermittent. On auscultating the heart the first 

 sound was double, the second diminished, and pauses occurred after 

 ever}- sixth or eighth normal contraction, each pause lasting as long as 

 a complete heart cycle. 



Treatment. — Iodide of potassium in 2 i -drachm doses daily, gradu- 

 all)' increased by the end of a week to 4 drachms. 



During the following days intermittency persisted with the same 

 characters. After the loth August the pauses occurred at longer and 

 less regular intervals. On the 20th August, when the animal left 

 hospital, they onl)' occurred after every fifteenth to twentieth pulsation. 



71. A six-year-old gelding, left in hospital 7th December, 1897. 

 Had been worked very hard. Three days before, when sweating 



freely, had been exposed to rain for more than an hour. That evening 

 the animal refused food. A veterinary surgeon who examined it 

 prescribed treatment. The animal was brought here on the morning 

 of the succeeding day. The temperature was then 40*5'^ C, the con- 

 junctiva yellowy the eyes half closed ; the nostrils discharged a little 

 rusty-coloured mucus ; the lower third of the chest was dull, the right 

 side revealed moist crepitation ; the pulse was large and strong, 56 per 

 minute ; respirations were 22 per minute. 

 Diagnosis — Pneumonia. 



