80 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



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. 



Similar treatment to that advised for myocarditis may be followed 

 in this disease. 



VAL^'ES OF THE HEART. 



The valves are subject to abnormal growths and structural changes 

 in chronic endocarditis or as a result of acute endocarditis. Some- 

 times valves are torn by sudden extreme muscular effort, or an abnor- 

 mality may be congenital. Cases are also reported in which thej'^ 

 have been found ruptured. 



Symptom's. — The general symptoms are those of heart weakness, 

 accompanied by congestion of the lungs and edema. 



Treatment. — Relief is sometimes afforded, but usually temporarily, 

 by the use of stimulants, especially digitalis. 



RUPTURE OF THE HEART. 



Sudden effort, blows, or disease ma}' lead to nipture of the heart of 

 the ox. The firet cause does not operate so often in cattle as in horses. 

 Tuberculosis or ulceration from other causes, such as a foreign body, 

 is the most common source of this accident. Rupture is shown by 

 sudden fainting, followed very shortly by death. 



HYPERTROPHY AND DILATATION 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 been 

 noticed as existing independently of thickened walls. In hypertrophy 

 the sounds of the heart are loud and pronounced, and may be heard 

 on both sides of the chest distinctly, and palpitation occurs to a 

 greater or le&s extent. Luckily both conditions are very rare in cattle. 



Atrophy is the technical term for wasting of the muscular tissue. 

 Atrophy of the heart is very rare among cattle, and is usually a result 

 of other diseases. 



FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE HEART. 



This condition of the heart is met with in some cattle that are very 

 fat, but it must be understood that the accumulation of fat around 

 the heart is not referred to by this designation. In fatty degenera- 

 tion the elements of the muscular tissue are replaced by fatty or oily 

 granules. The muscle becomes weak, the heart contractions are 

 insufficient, and heart weakness is shown by general weakness, short- 

 ness of breath, and weak, rapid pulse. 



