208 PRACTICE OF EQUINE MEDICIJ^E. 



at the base and at the apex are cellular growths. This produces 

 a thickening and a contraction of the valve, and when the heart 

 contracts the blood is forced back. 



What is the treatment if the disease is diagnosed ? 



There is not much to be done; perfect rest is important. 



The following drugs can be given, according to the indica- 

 tions: digitalis, aconite, salicylates, potassium iodide, and stimu- 

 lants in some cases. 



MYOCAEDITIS. 



Define myocarditis. 



It is an inflammation of the muscular structure of the heart. 



This condition cannot be appreciated in the horse, but it fre- 

 quently occurs in the ox tribe from traumatisms, and can be diag- 

 nosed in these animals. 



CAEDIAC HYPEETEOPHY. 



What is the synonym ? 



Hypertrophy of the heart. 



Define this condition. 



This is an enlargement or increase of the muscular tissue 

 forming the walls of the heart, with or without alterations in the 

 size of the cavities. 



Name the forms. 



There are three forms of cardiac hypertrophy: (1) simple 

 CAEDIAC HYPERTROPHY, whcTC the walls are increased in thick- 

 ness, there being no change in the size of the cavities; (2) eccentric 

 CARDIAC hypertrophy (hypertrophy with dilatation), where the 

 walls are thickened and the cavities enlarged; (3) concentric 

 CARDIAC hypertrophy, where the walls are increased and the cavi- 

 ties are smaller; this form is now considered to be a post-mortem 

 condition. 



What is the pathology? 



The normal capacity of the heart is about one to one and a 



quarter pints, its average weight being six and three-quarter pounds. 



For convenience, we may say that its long diameter is ten and 



