398 ENDOCAEDITIS. 



tions of lymph, which had become organized, had taken place, 

 giving rise to a considerable thickening of this membrane. 

 Layer after layer of fibrine had become separated from the 

 blood as it passed over this diseased membrane, and thus the 

 mass was gradually formed. Through the continuation of 

 the inflammatory action the pus was secreted, which filled up 

 the cup-like cavity, the walls of which had been formed by 

 the separated fibrine, as already described. 



" The great peculiarity of this case is, the existence of in- 

 flammation in one part only of the lining membrane of the 

 auricle. It is also singular that this diseased action is more 

 commonly met with on the left side of the heart than on the 

 right. The sudden and repeated falling down of the animal 

 will be, of course, referred to an unequal or irregular supply 

 of arterial blood to the brain. 



" The case of abscess in the walls of the heart of a cow is 

 even less interesting than that I have recorded, as, during 

 life, the only symptom indicative of diseased action going on 

 was, the animal's always turning to one side when moved or 

 caused to progress. This would rather have awakened a 

 suspicion of the brain being implicated. She, however, died 

 suddenly, when the last-named organ was found to be per- 

 fectly normal; but an abscess existed in the muscular struc- 

 ture of the heart, containing more than a tea-cupful of pus/' 



In the dog I have seen acute endocarditis frequently 

 supervening during an attack of rheumatism. The animal 

 becomes very helpless, suffers intense pain, cannot be moved 

 from its bed without crying out, and manifests considerable 

 dyspnoaa. A very marked bellows-murmur may be heard. 

 Endocarditis is regarded by some as a very common disease 

 in the dog. Its results, viz., chronic valvular disease, are not 

 uncommon, and characterised by loss of activity, dyspnoea, 

 and signs of cardiac embarrassment on the least exertion. 



