Intermittent Pulse, Cause of. 6/ 



years ago. There is anotlier symptom, which in 

 some cases occurs in a most remarkable degree ; I 

 allude to the great irregularity or intermittency 

 of the pulse. Mr. Haycock says, ''■ I have ob- 

 served it in some cases so great that there has 

 been a total omission of pulsation for five or six 

 seconds, and this occurrence will be repeated 

 three or four times every minute. This pecu- 

 liarity will exist all through its illness, and often 

 for three or four months after its recovery.'^ I 

 do not consider this of very great importance, 

 though it is an exceedingly interesting coinci- 

 dence to notice and to contemplate. I always 

 view it as a favourable omen. I consider it 

 results from nervous debility, and fully believe 

 that where there is an intermittent pulse there 

 exists a clot of blood in the heart. How often do 

 we find horses affected with influenza dying rather 

 unexpectedly ? What is the explanation of it ? 

 Post-mortem examinations show that there was 

 neither active nor chronic disease in any vital 

 organs to cause death nor yet rupture. Of the 

 human being it would be said that he died of 

 spasm of the valves of the heart. I have no 

 doubt that in every case life passes away in the 

 tranquil sleep of death through the medium of 

 sinking and syncope. In some few cases it would 

 appear that the whole virulence of the disease 

 concentrates itself in some local superficial part — 

 the legs or between the lower maxillary bone, 

 where deep, sloughing ulcers occur, and even in 

 a vital organ, assuming a putrescent character, as 

 if death of the parts had taken place. 



