DISEASES OF THE HEART, I15 



strong impulse of the heart. Tlie patient may perish fronv 

 obstruction to the heart's action by clots on the valves, or from 

 such clots carried on with the circulation and blocking arteries 

 at a distance; or diseases of other organs may supervene from 

 the latter cause, or a recovery may take place with or without 

 permanent alterations which render the valves unable to close 

 their respective orifices. 



Treatment is in the main the same as for pericarditis, rest, 

 laxatives, sedatives, and blisters being mainly relied upon. As 

 there is less danger from effusion, diuretics need not be pushed 

 to the same extent. In rheumatic cases, adopt anti-rheumatic 

 treatment, and in case of clots on the valves use iodide of 

 potassium and alkalies. 



CARDITIS. 



Inflammation of the muscular substance of the heart can only 

 take place to a limited extunt in connexion with endocarditis 

 and pericarditis, or with punctures from sharp bodies and the 

 like. Were the entire organ involved death would be prompt. 

 The symptoms are those of acute heart-disease generally, modi- 

 fied by the exact seat of the injury, and treatment need not differ 

 materially from that adapted to the two diseases just described. 



CHRONIC VALVULAR DISEASE. 



With the general symptoms of chronic heart-disease, there 

 are blowing murmurs as described in the table under auscultation 

 of the heart. This is a very common result of endocarditis, and 

 is irremediable. Yet affected cattle, sheep and pigs may often 

 be prepared for the butcher by liberal feeding and perfect quiet 



FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE HEART. 



This is most frequent in high-bred stock (Shorthorns, Berk- 

 shire and Essex pigs, Leicester and Southdown sheep), but may 

 exist in any pampered animal. Sometimes it is complicated by 



