428 THE STOCK owner's ADVISER. 



DISEASE OF THE VALVES. 



Valvular diseases are exceedingly difficult to diagnose. They 

 are generally due to a cliange of structure, caused by endocardi- 

 tis, mechanical rupture, or morhid growths. Symptoms are in- 

 dicated by difficult breathing when the animal is exercised. 



Treatment is not satisfactory. 



CYANOSIS. 



This is more commonly called ''blue disease." It is caused by 

 the foramen ovale remaining open instead of closing, as it should, 

 at birth. It is manifested by blueness of the visible mucous 

 membranes, difficulty in breathing, and coldness of the surface. 

 Animals so affected live but a short time after birth. 



ECTOPIA CORDIS. 



Misplacement or the Heart. — The most common form of 

 misplacement of the heart is that in which the heart is situated 

 outside the chest. When it is outside the chest it communicates 

 with the interior of the body throngh a foramen. 



FOREIGN BODIES IN THE HEART. 



In ruminants, particularly cattle, foreign bodies often find 

 their way into the pericardium, wounding both it and the heart. 

 Cattle are exceedingly fond of chewing and swallowing all sorts 

 of substances. The foreign body is taken into the stomach, and 

 thence forced through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. 

 Various substances have been found in the hearts of cattle, such 

 as knitting needles, nails, a piece of iron wire two inches long, a 

 plank nail, a hair-pin; a table knife 7ij inches long, passing from 

 the reticulum to the left ventricle; a ramrod 14 inches long, etc. 



Symptoms. — The animal shows general symptoms of heart dis- 

 ease. He may seem to recover, when in a few days the symptoms 

 will return. When such symptoms are present the examiner 

 may feel pretty safe in diagnosing it as a case of some foreign 

 substances in the heart. Xothing whatever in the way of treat- 

 ment can be done. 



