DISEASES OF THE HEART. 1S3 



cavity of the pericardium is filled; or if he lingers on, most dreadful palpitations 

 and throbbings accompany the advanced stage of the disease. It is seldom or never 

 that this disease exists alone, but is combined with dropsy of the chest or abdomen. 



Carditis is the name given to inflammation of the muscular substance ot the heart. 

 A well authenticated instance of inflammation of the substance of the heart does not 

 stand on record. Some other organ proves to be the chief seat of mischief, even 

 when the disturbance of the heart has been most apparent. 



Inflammation of the Lining of the Heart. — Mr. Simpson relates, in the Vete- 

 rinarian for 1834, a case in which there were symptoms of severe abdominal pain ; 

 the respiration was much disturbed, and the action of the heart took on an extraordi- 

 nary character. Three or four beats succeeded to each other, so violently as to shake 

 the whole frame, and to be visible at the distance of several yards, with intervals of 

 quietude for five minutes or more. At length this violent beating became constant. 



On dissection both lungs were found to be inflamed, the serum in the pericardium 

 increased in quantity, and the internal membrane of the heart violently inflamed, with 

 spots of ecchymosis. 



This would seem to be a case of inflammation of the heart ; but in a considerable 

 proportion of tbe cases of rabies, these spots of ecchymosis, and this general inflam- 

 mation of the heart, are seen. 



Hyperthrophy is an augmentation or thickening of the substance of the heart; 

 and although not dreamed of a few years ago, seems now to be a disease of no rare 

 occurrence among horses. The heart has been known to acquire double its natural 

 volume, or the auricle and ventricle on one side have been thus enlarged. Mr- 

 Thomson of Bath relates, in The Veterinarian, a very singular case. A horse was 

 brought with every appearance of acute rheumatwm. and was bled and physicked. 

 On the following day he was standing with his Aare legs widely extended, the nos- 

 trils dilated, the breathing quick and laborious, the eyes sunk in their orbits, the 

 pupils dilated, his nose turned round almost to his elbow, sighing, and his counte- 

 nance showing approaching dissolution. 



The pulse had a most irregular motion, and the undulation of the jugular veins 

 was extending to the very roots of the ears. He died a few hours afterwards. 



The lungs and pleura were much inflamed; the pericardhim was inflamed and dis- 

 tended by fluid ; the heart was of an enormous size and greatly inflamed ; both the 

 auricles and ventricles were filled with coagulated blood; tlie greater part of the 

 chordae tendineae had given way ; the valves did not approximate to perform their 

 function, and the heart altogether presented a large disorganized mass, weighing thir- 

 ty-four pounds. The animal worked constantly on the farm, and had never been put 

 to quick or very laborious work. 



Dilatation is increased capacity of the cavities of the heart, and the parietes be- 

 ino- trenerally thinned. It is probable that this is a more frequent disease than is 

 generally supposed ; and from the circulating power being lessened, or almost sus- 

 pended, on account of the inability of the cavities to propel their contents, it is ac- 

 companied by much and rapid emaciation. In the Gardens of the Zoological Society 

 of London this is a disease considerably frequent, and almost uniformly fatal. It 

 attacks the smaller animals, and particularly the quadrumana, and has been found 

 in the deer and the zebra. It is characterised by slow emaciation, and a piteous 

 expression of the countenance ; but the mischief is done when these symptoms ap- 

 pear. 



Ossification of the Heart. — There are but too many instances of this both in 

 the right and the left auricles of the heart, the aortic valves, the abdominal aorta, 

 and also the bronchial and other glands. Mr. Percivall observes of one of these 

 cases, that " the cavity could have been but a passive receptacle for the blood, and 

 the current must have been continued witho\it any or with hardly any fresh impulse." 

 Of air in the heart destroying the horse, there are some interesting accounts; 

 and also of rupture of the heart, and aneurism, or dilatation of the aorta, both tliorac;c 

 and abdominal, and even firther removed from the heart and in the iliac artery. The 

 symptoms that would certainly indicate the existence of aneurism are yet unknown, 

 except tenderness about the loins and gradual inability to work, are considered as 

 such : but it is interesting to know of the existence of these lesions. Ere long the 

 veterinary surgeon may possibly be able to guess at them, although he will rarely 



