DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 97 



CHAPTER VI. 



DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF CIRCULATION. 



The heart of the horse and ox is situated in the 

 center of the chest, with the apex inclining to the 

 left side. Therefore, when the horse and ox are 

 in a healthy state you cannot hear or see the mo- 

 tion of the heart from the outside, but on severe 

 exertion it can be both seen and felt. If in the 

 horse or ox, while standing quiet or after moder- 

 ate work, you can hear the beating of the heart, it 

 will indicate that there is some derangement of 

 this organ, and the horse will be considered un- 

 sound. 



Palpitation of the Heart. — Is usually caused by 

 a deranged condition of the nerves supplying the 

 heart; and as these nerves are connected with the 

 nerves of the stomach, it often happens when the 

 stomach is affected by disease that it may cause 

 palpitation. 



Causes: In the horse, fast driving, if long con- 

 tinued, especially if the animal is not used to it; 

 blood diseases or impure blood from reducing dis- 

 eases; influenza, or other epizootic affections. In 

 cattle, it is often the result of dyspepsia and nerv- 

 ous diseases. 



Symptoms: The principal symptoms are power- 

 ful and jerky action of the heart, frequent and 



