218 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OP 



and other foreign bodies from the reticulum through the dia- 

 phragm ; at the same time he alludes to many drawings in his 

 possession of polypi in the heart, growing from the auriculo- 

 ventricular valves ; also to drawings of deposits beneath the 

 endocardium — lining of the heart's cavity — of tumors also- 

 outside the heart, consisting in masses of cysts, and due to the 

 development of hydatids of the echinacoccus veterinorum. 



DILATATION OF THE HEART. 



The heart is often the seat of dilatation, or amplifications of 

 one or more cavities, with attenuation of the walls of the same. 

 This dilatation is supposed to arise from the mechanical effect 

 of over distention. 



The causes of dilatation are : deficient power in the heart in 

 proportion to that of the system ; this may be acquired or it 

 may be congenital ; all obstructions also to the circulation, 

 whether situated in the orifices of the heart, or in the aortic or 

 pulmonary systems, may induce this dilatation. 



Symptoms of dilatation of the heart, — The pulsations are 

 feeble and oppressed, and on moving the animal about he be- 

 comes distressed ; the pulse is soft and feeble ; languor in the 

 arterial circulation, as shown by the congested state of the 

 mucous surfaces. The respiration is somewhat affected, not 

 primarily, but through the intervention of irregular nervous 

 action. The jugulars are engorged, and various parts and or- 

 gans of the body are congested, and the surface and extremities 

 are below the natural temperature. 



Treatment of dilatation. — The principal object should be to 

 improve the general health, by alteratives and tonics ; the sur- 

 face of the body should be kept warm, and often rubbed, so as 

 to excite capillary action, this will also have the effect of re- 

 lieving the venous congestions. Any hygienic measures re- 

 garding both diet and management, which common sense may 

 suggest, will certainly do good ; pure air, for example, is abso- 

 lutely needed to vitalize the blood as it tardily courses the 

 veins ; without such there is very little chance of restoring the 

 animal. 



