22 G THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OP 



Symptoms of hypertrophy. — A person unacquainted with 

 the heart's sounds, will find it impossible to diagnose a disease 

 of this character, in fact, such a disease will sometimes defy the 

 scrutiny of experts. A deadened sound is always heard when 

 the ear of a person is applied to the region of the heart, yet 

 this depends somewhat on the form of the disease, its complica- 

 tions, the nature and intensity of the exciting causes and the 

 condition of the patient. On applying the finger to the pulse 

 at the angle of the jaw, or on the temporal artery it will appear 

 that the circulation is embarrassed. 



Treatment, — No rules can be laid down for the treatment 

 of this affection, and the only agent of any value is iodine, or, 

 iodide of potassium. It is possible, however, that in a case of 

 this character, the butcher may prove to be the best doctor. 



ENDOCARDITIS. 



Endocarditis is an inflammatory affection located in the 

 membrane within the heart. It is a rare disease among cattle, 

 yet very frequently occurs among horses. 



Symptoms. — Like all inflammatory conditions, this is 

 attended with heat about the base of the horns ; hot and fever- 

 ish mouth, vitiation of the secretions, cessation of rumination ; 

 some degree of suffering of a peculiar character not noticed in 

 any other affection. The pulse is violent, abrupt, strong, full, 

 and may range up to eighty ; every motion the animal makes 

 accelerates the respiration ; yet the lungs show no signs of 

 disease. On examining the heart after death, its internal 

 membrane is thickened and appears of a dark purple color ; 

 clots of extravasated blood, are also present on its internal 

 surface. 



Treatment. — Administer a cathartic drench, about sixteen 

 ounces of glauber salts in a couple of quarts of tepid water; then 

 give half an ounce of powdered nitrate of potassa in a litth 

 water, every four hours, until the force of the pulse is essentially 

 lowered ; in the mean time administer an occasional clyster 

 of salt and warm water. 



