354 PALPITATION OF THE HEART. 



of oats. The second, that of a horse who ' had been living 

 in a state of rest for some time, and was forced to sudden 

 and violent exertion with his stomach full of grass/ The 

 third had not undergone any exertion, save that of ' rolling 

 and pawing' from an attack of gripes. Mr Brown referred 

 them all to ' spasmodic action of the diaphragm/ 



" To Mr Sinclair,* V.S., Morpeth, spasms of the diaphragm 

 occurred in a case of trismus. ' There was a loud beating in 

 the region of the diaphragm, which could be "heard at a 

 distance of ten yards, and not synchronous with the pulse/ 

 It was 'accompanied with distressing cough and profuse 

 perspiration/ The case did well, treated by opium and 

 digitalis, and keeping the bowels open. 



" Mr Tombs,-f- V.S., Pershore, saw a five-year-old mare, who 

 for some days had been out at grass, that became suddenly 

 seized with quick and laborious respiration, quick pulse, and 

 shivering, which symptoms were treated by venesection and 

 an aperient. 'In the evening, violent palpitations of the 

 diaphragm came on, which was discovered by a tremendous 

 and loud noise inside the ribs, as though a man was in the 

 thorax beating the ribs with a hammer : the noise proceeded 

 principally from the left side, midway between the spine of 

 the back and the ninth rib. Pulse almost imperceptible/ 

 Venesection and opium, and stimulating liniment to the side 

 and extremities, with aperients, perfectly cured the case. 



" Mr Gutteridge,J V.S., Carmarthen, was called to a mare 

 who, on her arrival in the Gloucester mail, showed great 

 uneasiness, frequently attempting to stale; pulse 90; 'and 

 there was a violent beating on the near side, which could be 

 heard at a considerable distance. Her side was much con- 

 vulsed; and, on placing my hand over her heart, its action 



* The Veterinarian, for 1835. t Ibid., 1835. $ Ibid., 1836. 



