Diseases of the Circulatory System. i8i 



reference to efficiency in various forms of sport, may 

 remove the animal into the sphere of a new danger. Be 

 this as it may, at present our Hst of diseases in connec- 

 tion with this particular class of organs is surprisingly 

 limited. 



Fatty Degeneration of the Heart is the common 

 associate with asthma in pampered pets and constitutes a 

 serious condition, the muscular tissue being replaced by 

 adipose or fatty substance. The obvious result is a want 

 of tone and energy" in the beats or pulsations, and 

 inability to propel the nutrient fluid along the channels 

 of circulation. The various tissues therefore lack nourish- 

 ment, become pallid and weak, which unfits the animal 

 for any exertion, and a serious condition of the brain and 

 nervous system is induced, not only in the want of 

 nourishment, but in the defective supply of blood, 

 syncope or fainting being a common symptom, sooner or 

 later resulting in death. The disease is incurable, but 

 may be prevented by permitting the animal to take 

 regular exercise and other means of stimulating the 

 natural functions. 



Rupture of the Heart is not of common occurrence, 

 but it is known in connection with improper feeding and 

 want of judicious exercise. Dogs subjected to "a feast 

 and a fast," and other treatment calculated to militate 

 against health and condition, are likely to induce some 

 form of degeneration of the organ, and in a moment of 

 excitement, whether of play or work, rupture takes place 

 at the weakest part, and death is certain. 



Valvular Disease is not uncommon as the result of 

 chronic rheumatism. It appears in the form of a deposit 

 of fibrine from the blood, which may exist only as a 

 roughness on the surface or be so large as to form a clot, 

 and thus block up the opening to the vessels. Such con- 

 ditions in their mildest form seriously interfere with the 

 proper action of the valves, greatly diminishing the 

 needful flow of blood ; and when clots have formed the 

 results are intensified, causing the patient to fall in 

 repeated fits of fainting, or by completely plugging the 

 vessels, sudden death is induced. Treatment is only 



