HEART-DISEASE. 241 



suffer from enlargement, dilatation, or valvular disease of 

 the heart. The latter may result from rheumatism, etc. 

 It is true that the physical investigation of the heart of the 

 dog can not be carried out as easily as in man ; neverthe- 

 less, any marked alteration in size, and especially any 

 change in the heart-sounds, is readily made out in the one 

 case by percussion and palpation, in the other by auscul- 

 tation. 



Hypertrophy, or increase in the thickness of the muscu- 

 lar walls of the heart, is not of itself of such serious im- 

 port as dilatation, for this results in imperfect closure 

 {mGompetency) of the valves, regurgitation of blood, dam- 

 ming back of blood in the venous system of the body, en- 

 gorgement of the lungs, and that long list of evils arising 

 therefrom, such as oedema or dropsy of the tissues, dropsy 

 of the various cavities of the body, indigestion, haemor- 

 rhage from the stomach, disturbed sleep, etc. 



Prognosis. — "With care in the case of hypertrophy the 

 prospects are good ; of dilatation, in old dogs especially, 

 not hopeful. 



Treatment. — Cure, or a return to the normal can scarce- 

 ly be expected. Palliation is all that may be hoped for in 

 most cases. 



The dog must never be allowed to compete with fast 

 and vigorous animals. If not excitable, he may accompany 

 his master quietly alone or with some easy-going compan- 

 ion. If spirited, exercise on chain may alone be allowed. 



Special attention must be paid to the condition of the 

 bowels and digestion, especially in dilatation. 



At the same time, to forbid exercise altogether would 

 be a capital mistake, both as regards the heart itself and 



