334 Veterinary Medicine. 



with those of pericarditis. There are the same general symptoms 

 of fever (temperature 102° to 106°), the same pinched, anxious 

 countenance, the same shortness of breath and oppression when 

 moved, the same violent heart's action, and the same rapid, ex- 

 citable pulse tending to be irregular and intermittent. Among 

 the more specific symptoms are a very violent impulse of the 

 heart against the left side, varying in force, however, in succes. 

 sive beats ; a metallic tinkling accompanying the impulse and 

 sometimes heard at some little distance from the body, a blowing 

 murmur as soon as the changes in the valves render them insuffi- 

 cient to close the orifices, and, if the obstruction exists on the 

 right side, venous pulse, general venous congestion, and dropsical 

 swellings. 



The pulse may at first have considerable force but, as insuffi- 

 ciency of the valves ensues, it becomes small and weak, its weak- 

 ness forming a most marked contrast to the violence of the heart's 

 impulse against the side. The irregularity and intermission of 

 the pulse is to be ascribed at first to the impaired nervous energy 

 of the heart though later it is often due to the obstacle presented 

 by clots to the flow of blood from the heart, so that a beat some- 

 times takes place without a corresponding pulsation. It may 

 reach 80 or 160 per minute in horse or ox. 



The blowing murmur when heard is one of the most character- 

 istic symptoms but must be carefully distinguished from other 

 allied heart sounds. If very loud it may be confounded with the 

 friction sound of pericarditis, but may be differentiated by its in- 

 variable coincidence with some particular portion of the heart's 

 beat. The absence of local tenderness is another distinctive 

 symptom. Again in pericarditis effusion takes place early annul- 

 ing friction sound, and diminishing alike the impulse and the 

 sounds of the heart. 



It is of less practical value to be able to distinguish the precise 

 seat of the murmur, yet the following data will guide to such a 

 conclusion. 



Simple induration or insufficiency of the Left Auriculo 

 ventricular (Mitral) valve. Paroxysms of palpitation, op- 

 pression, and difficulty of breathing; vertigo with loss of control 

 over the limbs and vacilating gait ; stupor, coma ; slight tremor 

 and blowing lioise with the first sound of the heart ; heart's im- 



