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Endocarditis is a nineli luoro frequent disease among- horses than we 

 are generally' aware, and often gives rise to sj'mptons which, at first, 

 are obscure and unnoticed. Ihave witnessed two enzoiiticsof influenza 

 in which 20 per cent of the animals attacked develoiied symptoms of 

 either endocarditis or pericarditis. A certain number of these cases 

 subsequently developed the condition knowji as heaves, or gradually 

 failed in strength, with recurrence of attacks of heart failure upon the 

 slightest exertion, rendering main* of them valueless. In the rheumatic 

 type of influenza we may often find the heart becoming involved in 

 the disease, in consequence of the morbid material conveyed through 

 the heart in the blood-stream. In view of the fact that many affec- 

 tions, in even remote portions of the body, may be traced directly to a 

 primary endocardial disease, we shall feel justified in inviting special 

 attention to this disease. 



Endocarditis ma}' be acute or assume various degrees of severity. 

 In acute inflammation we find a thickening and a roughened appear- 

 ance of the endocardium througliout the cavities of the heart. This 

 condition is soon followed by a coagulation of fibrine uijon the inflamed 

 surface, which adheres to it, and by attrition soon becomes worked up 

 into shreddy-like granular elevations; this may lead to the formation 

 of librinous clots in the heart and sudden death early in the disease, 

 the second or third day. This acute type of the disease, however, does 

 not always affect the whole interior of the heart, but is often conflned 

 to one ventricle or may be in patches; it may extend through the ven- 

 tricle into the aorta or the i^ulmonary vein; it may affect the valves 

 princii)ally, which are composed of but little else than the endocardium 

 folded U2:»on itself. 



In acute endocarditis we invariablj' will find myocarditis develop 

 corresponding to the same space, which in intensity may produce seri- 

 ous results through the destruction of functional ability or lead to 

 weakness, abscess, or rupture. Immediately upon the swelling of this 

 membrane we will find an abnormal action and abnormal sounds of 

 the heart. 



Subacute endocarditis, which is the most common form we meet, 

 may not l^eeome ai)preciable for several days after its commencement. 

 It is characterized b}' being confined to one or more anatomical divi- 

 sions of the heart, and all the successive morbid changes follow each 

 other in a comparatively slow process. Often we would not be led to 

 suspect heart affection were it not for the distress in breathing, which 

 it generally occasions when the animal is exercised, especially if the 

 valves are much involved. When the disease extends into the arte- 

 ries, atheromatous dei^osits usuallj' develop; when the inflammation 

 is severe at the origin of the tendinous cords they maj^ become softened 

 and ruptured. AYlien much fibrinous coagula or cellular vegetations 

 form upon the inflamed membi-ane, either in minute shreds or patches, 

 or when formation of fibrinous clots occurs in the cavity affected, some 



