368 DILATATION OF THE HEAET. 



ATEOPHY OF THE HEAET. 



The diminution in thickness of the muscular walls of one 

 or more cavities of the heart is certainly not unfrequent in 

 the horse. The size of the cavities is usually increased, and 

 very rarely do these remain of their normal capacity under 

 such circumstances. From my own observation, the right 

 side is more frequently atrophied than the left, and the 

 auricle oftener than the ventricle. 



Symptoms. Animals are dull, not inclined to eat or 

 work; pulse feeble, indistinct at the jaw, and often irregular. 

 The sounds of the heart are feeble and indistinct, sometimes 

 modified by complications, such as valvular disease. There 

 is often a marked venous pulse; coldness of the extremities, 

 and other symptoms noticed under the head Dilatation of the 

 Heart. Treatment is of no avail 



DILATATION OF THE HEAET. 



I have witnessed three well-marked cases of dilatation of 

 the right side, and all within last year and this. They all 

 presented the same features as to history, &c., and may be 

 grouped together. 



Istly, The animals had all been owned by the per- 

 sons consulting me for periods varying from four to six 

 months. 



2ndly, During that time complaints were constant regard- 

 ing the animals' inability to work. Two of the animals 

 one a clever little chestnut mare, and the other a good bay 

 carriage horse* were naturally active useful animals, but 

 were rendered unfit for work by the cardiac disorder. 



Srdly, The leading symptoms noticed by the owners and 

 grooms in the three cases were, difficulty of breathing on the 

 slightest exertion, no appetite, coldness of the extremities. 



