DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 405 



only seen in very young animals, since they generally either die 

 or are killed. 



The heart is sometimes found outside the body in calves and 

 lambs, which in most such instances die shortly after birth. This 

 position of the heart outside the chest in front, at the bottom of 

 the neck, or even beneath the abdomen, is spoken of as " ectopia 

 cordis." 



** Carditis," or inflammation of the heart, may be an accom- 

 paniment of either endocarditis or pericarditis. The muscular 

 substance of the heart itself is sometimes inflamed near a deposit 

 or seat of injury. Of course this disease is of the very 

 gravest kind, and most generally leads to a fatal issue. 



"Pericarditis," or inflammation of what is called the "peri- 

 cardium," or *' heart-bag," may occur independently, or in con- 

 nection with rheumatism, or with contagious pleuro-pneumonia. 

 Very careful treatment is required to combat this disease, what- 

 ever its origin may have been, and death may occur within about 

 two days. 



The presence of foreign bodies in the heart is not so uncommon 

 as might be supposed. Both oxen and sheep frequently swallow 

 pins, needles, nails, and such like things, and, as might be 

 expected, these are liable to perforate the walls of the alimen- 

 tary canal, and pierce through the tissues to the heart, as a 

 result of the movements of digestion, respiration, and circula- 

 tion. Pigs, too, sometimes swallow such things in their food. 

 Death generally results, owing to pericarditis being set up, or 

 possibly to some other more violent cause. Occasionally an 

 animal lives for some time with these injuries. 



The late Mr. D. Gresswell was years ago asked by Dr. Banks 

 to see an ox. It was clear that some cause was seriously 

 impeding the heart's action, probably a needle, or something 

 like a needle. After a careful examination of the animal, he 

 diagnosed the presence of a bodkin, needle, or some such 

 foreign body in the chest, and that the heart at each systole was 

 striking against the blunt point of the needle. He advised that 

 the animal should be slaughtered, and the needle was then 

 found lying in a stained fistulous track, which extended from 

 the rumen through the pericardium to the heart. The heart 

 itself was found to be riddled with holes in the place where the 

 needle impinged upon it, as it moved to and fro. 



