hiflammations in the Heart. 325 



tendency to dropsy of the extremities ; loss of control over the 

 extremities when walked or trotted far ; venous pulsation in the 

 jugulars ; heart's impulse weak and undulatory or tremulous, or 

 under exertion tumultuous or palpitating ; murmur often present 

 with the first sound ; the first or more commonly the second sound 

 may be doubled ; pulse small, weak, irregular, and often inter- 

 mittent, and frequently livid spots in the nasal mucous membrane. 

 Paroxysms of unsteady gait from irregular circulation in the 

 brain is frequent, and Dyer asserts that he has repeatedly seen 

 blindness as a result of this condition. 



In treatment the main purpose should be to put a stop to the 

 cause of the disease before it has been developed to a dan- 

 gerous extent. When the malady is manifested by the symptoms 

 above enumerated the subject is rendered permanently unfit for 

 service and will probably die suddenly under some slight exer- 

 tion. Fattening animals in a condition of quietude will often lay 

 on flesh for an indefinite length of time notwithstanding that the 

 heart is considerably dilated. (See note on digitalis, strophanthus 

 and arsenious acid in dilated heart, under the head of hypertrophy') , 

 To relieve the asthmatic attacks attending on an overtaxed heart 

 Zuill strongly recommends the combination of iodide of potassium, 

 digitalis, nux vomica and coca. But heart tonics are often much 

 more affective after the bowels and portal system have been un- 

 loaded by a laxative. 



INFI.AMMATIONS IN THE HEART. 



These are among the most common diseases of this organ and 

 moreover lead to many of the changes in structure to be hereafter 

 noticed so that it is convenient to treat of them here. According 

 to their relative frequency they may be ranged : — ist. Inflamma- 

 tion of the external covering of the heart — pericarditis ; 2d. In- 

 flammation of the internal lining membrane of the heart — endo- 

 carditis ; and 3d. Inflammation of the muscular substance of the- 

 heart — carditis. 



