356 PALPITATION OF THE HEAET. 



The beats of the heart were not very appreciable, although 

 the ear was applied to the left side, but, on the contrary, 

 they were most marked (tres sensibles) on applying the ear to 

 either flank." In the third case, when the hand was placed 

 with its back to the ribs, behind the left elbow, the heart's 

 impulse could not be felt, and the sounds were indistinct; but 

 on applying the ear to the flank, the sounds are heard to be 

 near, as the heart had been carried upwards and backwards. 

 After a little exercise the lifting of the flanks is observed, and 

 a sort of impulse isochronous with the heart's action. 



Levrat records a case which occurred in a mare fifteen years 

 of age. The following symptoms were observed : A jerk of 

 the whole body, produced by the extraordinary force of the im- 

 pulse of the heart, as the organ strikes, the dorso-costal region, 

 towards the upper part of the first false ribs. The impulse is 

 very distinct, and does not seem to be due to any tumour in- 

 terposed between the heart and ribs; its force is such as to 

 cause a general shake of the body, which may be observed at 

 a great distance. These heart-beats are very regular, fifty 

 per minute, and heterochronous with the pulsations of the 

 submaxillary artery, which are also fifty in number. The 

 artery is softened ; the pulse regular ; the breathing is pecu- 

 liar. On approaching the ear to the external nares, the ani- 

 mal is heard to make successively three inspirations, which 

 coincide with the heart-beats; each of these inspirations is 

 followed by an expiration, so feeble and short that columns 

 of air cannot be felt; the fourth inspiration is followed by 

 strong and prolonged expiration, which lasts during three 

 heart-beats. Thus the respiration continued. 



Three cases observed at the Lyons Veterinary School 

 were characterised by very violent impulse of the heart. The 

 palpitations were not only perceptible by a violent shaking 

 of the body, but also by a sound which could not be mis- 



