210 DISEASES OF THE HEART. 



In March, 1833, Mr. Thomson had a horse belonging to 

 Mr. Orr, Carse of Lochwinnoch, brought to him for examina- 

 tion. He was lame, apparently in the shoulder ; he groaned 

 when backed, and showed unwillingness to turn round or even 

 move. Pulse irregular and quickened. Mr. Thomson, from 

 the superficial examination he had, was inclined to regard it 

 as a sort of rheumatism or founder. Venesection, purge — 

 returned home. Mr. T. was summoned next day, and 

 found him in the most pitiable condition, — standing with 

 his fore legs wide extended; nostrils dilated; breathing 

 quick and laborious ; eyes sunken, pupils dilated, looking 

 back and sighing ; countenance hopeless. " Pulse had a 

 most peculiar irregular motion, and the undulation of the 

 jugular veins was extending up to the roots of the ears. 

 He expired shortly afterwards. Autopsy, — Considerable 

 inflammation of lungs, and pleura, and pericardium, the 

 latter greatly distended with red fluid. The heart of 

 enormous size, and greatly inflamed; both auricles and 

 ventricles full of blood; parietes relaxed, and chordae 

 tendinise lacerated. The valves did not approximate to do 

 their duty. Foramen ovale dilated. The whole mass 

 weighed thirty-four pounds. The horse had been some time 

 in Mr. Orr's possession, and had worked (but neither quick 

 nor laboriously) constantly on the farm.^^ 



Mr. Harrison, V.S., Lancaster, in 1836, sent an account 

 of a case to The Veterinarian, which turned out to be 

 hypertrophy of the heart. The subject was "an aged 

 bay coach-horse," whose state altogether was that of ex- 

 treme dejectedness, with "a very peculiar expression of eye," 

 and a countenance "wild, haggard, and pitiable." Pulse 

 from 70 to 90, soft, and, at times, "in an almost collapsed 

 state." Respiration perfectly tranquil, and no signs of pain 

 betrayed. Partial cold sweats and tremors occasionally. 

 Extreme parts cold. One bloodletting at the very begin- 

 ning had been borne to the extent of four or five quarts : 

 but, twelve hours afterwards, on attempting a second, the 

 blood — which was so light-coloured that it hardly stained 

 Mr. Harrisou^s linen — came away tardily, and, by the time 



