580 CHROXIC DISEASES OF THE HEART. 



the body, while the immediate effect on the venous system is 

 exhibited in the regidarly occurring venous pulsation in the 

 jugulars. 



In estimating the general or systemic symptoms accompany- 

 ing different forms of chronic valvular disease, it is well to 

 recollect that after some time all of these are prone to produce 

 or to be attended with capillary disturbance, and thus largely 

 to simulate each other. 



This peculiar haemal obstruction is chiefly indicated by such 

 general symptoms as — 1. Distressed breathing, passing on to 

 confirmed and serious dyspnoea when the horse is much 

 excited, made to move rapidly, or undergo severe exertion. 

 2. Palpitation and irregular action of the heart, discoverable 

 by auscultation. 3. Irregular, unequal, or intermittent action 

 of the circulation, both arterial and venous. 4. Anasarcous 

 swelHngs, usually appearing first in the extremities, and ulti- 

 mately extending to the inferior portions of the chest and 

 abdomen. This is associated with accumulations of fluid in 

 the great serous cavities, particularly of the pleural and peri- 

 cardiac sacs. 5. Pulmonary complications, as congestion, 

 bronchitis, or hsemorrhage. 6. A peculiar anxious and dis- 

 tressed expression of the animal's countenance, with occa- 

 sionally symptoms of coma or vertigo, indicative of cerebral 

 disturbance. Of these it is probable that the most diagnostic 

 in the earlier stages are the peculiar and urgent dyspnoea, un- 

 associated with primary pulmonic disease. The palpitation 

 and irregular condition of the circulation are followed later by 

 the appearance of dropsical effusions. The occurrence of 

 these in combination, or of any one in particular, ought at 

 once to call for a careful examination of the state of the heart 

 Treatment. — In the management of all these cases of struc- 

 tural disease of the heart it is obvious that the most which 

 can be done is merely palliative, our efforts being du-ected ta 

 the moderating of the abnormal cardiac action, and to the 

 combating of untoward symptoms as they arise. 



With us it is not often, as with the practitioner of human 

 medicine, an object to prolong life when our patients are mani- 

 festly unfit to serve the purpose for which they are adapted 

 and maintained. 



In the great majority of cases attention to dietary and 



