348 DISEASES OF THE HEAET. 



occupies in the chest is so accessible for the purposes of per- 

 cussion and auscultation, that very slight variations in posi- 

 tion, size, &c., can be determined with the greatest accuracy. 

 This cannot be accomplished in the horse. The ponderous 

 shoulders close upon the keel-shaped thorax to such an 

 extent as to prevent our carefully distinguishing the heart- 

 sounds at different parts, and totally precluding any investi- 

 gation as to the space filled by the organ, however much 

 enlarged it may be. I not only believe, however, with 

 Leblanc, that we can attain to such a degree of proficiency 

 as to determine the presence of any disease of the heart 

 with as much precision as that of any other organ, especially 

 in the horse; but I think we can accomplish more in the 

 diagnosis of heart affections than even in diseases of the 

 liver, pancreas, &c. The diseases of all the internal organs 

 in animals have been very imperfectly recognised. How 

 few of our practitioners would like to stake their reputation 

 on the recognition of hydrothorax! I do not forget the 

 advice I received in the lecture-room when a student, to 

 carry a small trochar and canula in the pocket, to pierce, in 

 the absence of on-lookers, the intercostal space, in any doubt- 

 ful instance, and thus make sure of diagnosing a condition 

 for which characteristic signs were wanting. I have since 

 learned, that though hydrothorax is one of the diseases easily 

 recognised, it is certainly not more readily diagnosed than 

 cardiac disorders. Indeed, I remember, when a college stu- 

 dent, having had the advantage of practising auscultation a 

 little in hospitals, Diagnosing effusion in the pericardium 

 which had been ignored. The animal died, and the accuracy of 

 the diagnosis was demonstrated by post-mortem examination. 

 General Symptoms of Diseases of the Heart The acute 

 affections, such as pericarditis, or endocarditis, are associated 

 with very intense fever, and very commonly with a fever of a 



