548 GENERAL SYMPTOMS AND FORMS OF CARDIAC DISEASE. 



organs of the thorax all cardiac sounds become modified or 

 altered. 



In consolidation of pulmonary tissue, and in case of effusion 

 into the pleural sac, these sounds are, as a rule, intensified ; 

 they are somewhat diminished in severe cases of pulmonary 

 emphysema. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



' GENERAL SYMPTOMS AND FORMS OF CARDIAC DISEASE. 



In a few forms of heart disease, chiefly such as result from 

 traumatic lesions, fatal results may be reached apart from the 

 development of any very obvious general disturbance. When 

 symptoms pointing to any serious lesion show themselves, they 

 are generally of short duration. 



Ordinarily, however, the common acute affections, those 

 largely partaking of inflammatory action, and in which the 

 membranous structures of the organ are chiefly involved, are 

 accompanied with well-marked fever of a varying character. 

 By far the greater number of cardiac diseases marked by 

 more or less extensive structural changes, and which may 

 be said to compose the greater number of the affections, are 

 of a chronic character, and have invariably, in a more or 

 less perfectly developed form, certain general symptoms con- 

 nected with them. 



Languor, lassitude, and impeded respiration, approaching to 

 or actually culminating in dyspnoea when made to undergo anj"- 

 severe exertion, are very general features of such cases. The 

 horse, although perfectly susceptible of being excited, is rather 

 disposed to remain undisturbed ; and when engaged in active 

 work, and following its completion, shows muscular weakness, 

 or, it may be, decided muscular exhaustion. The impeded 

 respiration occurring during active exertion or severe Avork 

 may be, and often is, taken for a defective condition of the 

 respiratory functions, and not attributed to the true cause, 

 impaired cardiac power. It may, however, be dift'erentiated 

 from the same disturbance arising from disease of the respi- 

 ratory organs by the absence of fever and cough, and from 

 the presence of an unequal, irregular, or intermittent pulse 

 and cardiac action. 



