DISEASES OF THE HEART AND BLOOD-VESSELS. 93 



much the same as those of pericarditis, and it is difficult to discriminate 

 between the two affections. As in other heart troubles, there is a jug- 

 ular pulse, the legs may become dropsical, and there is a tendency to 

 faint if the head is elevated suddenly. It is said that the bellows-like 

 sound is much more distinct than it is in pericarditis. It is the most 

 fatal of heart diseases, because of the liability of the formation of clots, 

 which may adhere to the valves, change in the structure of the valves, 

 and often a complication with an abnormal condition of the blood. 

 Clots may be formed in the heart and, being carried to other parts, 

 prove fatal by interrupting the circulation in some vital organ. 



The same treatment as advised for pericarditis may be followed in 

 tills disease. Especial precautions should be observed in the use of 

 aconite. 



VALVES OF THE HEART. 



The valves are subject to abnormal growths and structural changes. 

 Cases are also reported in which they have been found ruptured. The 

 want of diagnostic symptoms in cattle makes it useless to enumerate 

 signs of no practical value. 



TUMORS IN THE HEART. 



Post-mortem examinations have revealed tumors of various kinds 

 and shapes in the cavities of the heart of cattle. They may be attached 

 to the walls or valves, or exisjt in the structure of the wall. They have 

 also been found externally, of enormous size, attached to the apex. On 

 this subject Gamgee remarks: 



It is evident tliat the importance of these organic disorders varies as much from 

 tin- position of the growth as from its size and tendency to interfere with the heart's 

 action. The presence of n small obstruction within the heart is calculated to en- 

 danger an animal's life far more than an external tumor. Thus, a polypus forming 

 within the auricle may drop on the corresponding auricnlo-veutricular opening and 

 tho blood's flow. It ia remarkable that, as shown by Case II, reported below. 

 u largo polypus may have its pedicle in the auricle, and continue growing in the 

 : :cle to the extent of tilling the latter, and yet the animal died suddenly without 

 has ing previously shown signs of ill health. 



The polypus referred to in Case II was found in the heart of an ox, 

 and measured over five inches in its greatest length, and over nine 

 inches in its greatest circumference. 



HYPERTROPHY OF THE HEART. 



This is an enlargement of the heart, and may consist of the thicken 

 ing of the walls alone, or at the same time the cavities may be either 

 enlarged or diminished in size. Dilatation of the cavities has also been 

 noticed, as existing independently of thickened walls. It is said that 

 in hypertrophy the sounds of tho heart are loud and pronounced, and 

 may be heard on both sides of the chest very distinctly, and palpita- 

 tion to si greater or less extent is constant. Luckily both conditions 

 are very rare in cattle. 



