CHAPTER V. 

 DISEASES OF THE HEART. 



Frequency in different animals. General symptoms. Palpitation, thumpd. 

 Displacement of the heart. Cyanosis. Enlargement, hypertrophy. Wasting, 

 atrophy. Dilatation. Pericarditis, inflammation ol the heart-sac. Endo- 

 carditis, inflammation of the lining membrane of the heart. Carditis, inflam- 

 mation of the structure of the heart. Chronic disease of the valves. Fatty 

 degeneration of the heart. Tumours and parasites of the heart. Rupture of 

 the heart. 



These are much more common in domestic animals than is 

 generally supposed. Though protected in animals from the 

 strain consequent on the upright position of man and excessive 

 mental efforts, the heart suffers from the severe physical exer- 

 tions of dogs and horses, and in all animals from its contiguity 

 to diseased lungs and pleurae, from the increased force neces- 

 sary to propel the blood through the lungs or general circulation 

 when disease offers mechanical obstructions, and, above all, 

 from the settling of rheumatism on its valves and other fibrous 

 textures. Dairy cows suffer greatly from pins, needles, and 

 other sharp-pointed bodies swallowed with the food and after- 

 ward directed toward the heart by its movements. High-bred 

 oxen, sheep, pigs, and even pampered horses are very subject 

 to fatty degeneration of the muscular substance of the heart 

 and consequent dilatation of its cavities. 



GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF HEART-DISEASE. 



I. The pulse in full grown animals at rest may be set down 

 as follows per minute : — horse 36 to 46 ; ox 38 to 42, or in a 

 hot building or with full paunch, 70; &heep, ^oat, and pig '/O 



