404 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



and there are but very few men who are thoroughly competent 

 to diagnose the diseases of the heart and so on, even in the case 

 of the horse, where such knowledge is frequently of very great 

 value. Such information is of much less importance in the case 

 of the diseases of the heart in oxen. Nor is it a matter of great 

 practical utility that veterinary surgeons should make themselves 

 acquainted with the diseases and derangements of the circulatory 

 system in cattle. As a rule it would not be found advisable 

 that an ox should be taken in hand for a long course of treatment, 

 in order to cure any of the more dangerous affections of the heart. 



These are not so numerous in oxen, sheep, and pigs as they 

 are in the horse, which latter animal, noted and used as it is for 

 activity and speed, needs more strength in its circulatory organs, 

 and is also more liable to suffer from any derangement in this 

 part. The chief disorders attributable to the circulatory system 

 in cattle are: — "Anaemic palpitation," "rupture of the heart," 

 " cyanosis," " carditis," ** pericarditis," " the presence of foreign 

 bodies in the heart," "endocarditis," "hypertrophy,^' and 

 "embolism." " Ansemic palpitation" may occur when the 

 blood is in an attenuated and watery condition. The sounds 

 and murmurs, especially aortic, produced when the blood is in 

 this, state are softer and more regular than those which arise 

 from disease of the heart, and they may often be made to cease 

 by a judicious use of tonics. 



** Rupture of the heart " is by no means frequent, but it has 

 been noticed in oxen which have undergone severe exertion in 

 ploughing. Mr. George Armatage, who is a well-known writer 

 on cattle diseases, mentions a case in which old-standing disease 

 of the lungs had limited the circulation, and, in consequence of 

 sudden exertion when the ox was drawing a heavy load of turnips 

 up-hill, rupture of the right auricle and pericardium took place, 

 causing, of course, almost instantaneous death. 



** Cyanosis," or "Blue Disease," occurs in consequence of 

 imperfect closure of what is called the " foramen ovale " of the 

 foetus, whereby the venous blood from the right side of the heart 

 mingles with the arterial blood of the left side, giving rise to 

 venous pulse and ansemic palpitation, to a blue tinge in the skin 

 and mucous membranes, and to an emaciated and cold state of 

 the body. Moderate exertion may bring on death, and the 

 progress of the animal being hopeless as a rule, the condition is 



