DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 237 



talis or opium will generally give prompt relief. When it is due to 

 organic impairment of the heart it must be regarded as a sjmiptom, 

 not as a matter of primar}^ specific treatment. 



SYNCOPE, OR FAINTING. 



Actual fainting rarel}^ occurs among horses. It may, however, be 

 induced bj^ a rapid and great loss of blood, pain of great intensity, a 

 mechanical interference with the circulation of the brain, etc. 



Symptoms. — Syncope is characterized by a decrease or temporary 

 suspension of the action of the heart and respiration, with partial or 

 total loss of consciousness. It generally occurs suddenly, though 

 there may bo premonitory symptoms, as giddiness, or vertigo, dilated 

 pupil, staggering-, blanching of the visible mucous membranes, a rap- 

 idly sinking pulse, and dropping to the ground. The pulse is feeble 

 or ceases to beat; the surface of the body turns cold; breathing is 

 scarcely to be perceived, and the animal may be entirelv unconscious. 

 This state is uncertain in duration — generally it lasts only a few 

 minutes; the circulation becomes restored, breathing becomes more 

 distinct, and consciousness and muscular strengl;h return. In cases 

 attended with much hemorrhage or organic disease of the heart, the 

 fainting fit may be fatal; otherwise it will prove but a transient occur- 

 rence. In paralysis of the heart the symptoms may be exactly similar 

 to syncope. Syncope may be distinguished from apoplexy by the 

 absence of stertorous breathing and lividit}^ of the visible nuicous 

 membranes. 



Treatment. — Dash cold water on the head; administer a stimulant — 

 4 ounces of whisky or half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia. Pre- 

 vent the animal from getting up too soon, or the attack may immedi- 

 ately recur. Afterwards, if the attack was due to weakness from loss 

 of blood, impoverished blood, or associated with debility, general 

 tonics, rest, and nourishing food are indicated. 



HYPERTROPHY OF THE HEART, OR CARDIAC ENLARGEMENT. 



H3^pertrophy of the heart implies augmentation of bulk in its muscu- 

 lar substance, with or without dilatation or contraction of its cavities. 

 It may exist with or without other cardiac affections. In valvular 

 disease or valvular insufiicienc}^, hypertrophy frequently results as a 

 consequence of increased demand for propelling power. The difficul- 

 ties with which it is most frequently connected are dilatation and ossi- 

 fication of the valv^es. It may also occur in connection with atrophied 

 kidnej^s, weak heart, etc. It may be caused by an increased determi- 

 nation of blood to the organ or from a latent form of myocarditis, and 

 it may arise from a long-continued increase of action dependent upon 

 nervous disease. All the cavities of the heart may have their walls 

 hypertrophied or the thickening may involve one or more. While the 

 wall of a ventricle is thickened its cavity may retain its normal size 



