233 



SYNCOPE — FAINTING-. 



Aetna! fainting rarely occurs among horses. It may, however, be 

 induced by a rapid and great loss of blood, pain of great intensity, a 

 mechanical interference with the circulaliion of the brain, etc. 



Symptoms. — Syncope is characterized by a decrease or temporary sus- 

 pension of the action of the heart and respiration, with partial or total 

 loss of consciousness. It generally occurs suddenly, though there may 

 be premonitory symptoms, as giddiness or vertigo, dilated pupil, stag- 

 gering, blanching of the visible mucous membranes, a rapidly sinking 

 pulse, and dropping to the ground. The pulse is feeble or ceases to 

 beat; the surface of the body turns cold; breathing is scarcely to be 

 perceived, and the animal may be entirely unconscious. This state is 

 uncertain in duration ; generally it lasts only a few minutes ; the circu- 

 lation becomes restored, breathing becomes more distinct, and con- 

 sciousness and muscular strength return. In cases attended with much 

 hemorrhage or organic disease of the heart, the fainting fit may be fatal, 

 otherwise it will prove but a transient occurrence. In jjaralysis of the 

 heart the symptoms may be exactly similar to syncope. Syncope may 

 be distinguished from apoplexy by the absence of stertorous breathing, 

 and lividity of the visible mucous membranes. 



Treatment. — Dash cold w^ater on the head ; administer a stimulant, 4 

 ounces of whisky or half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia. Prevent 

 the animal from getting up too soon, or the attack may immediately 

 recur. Afterwards, if the attack was due to weakness from loss of 

 blood, impoverished blood, or associated with debility, general tonics, 

 rest, and nourishing food are indicated. 



HYPERTROPHY OF THE HEART — CARDIAC ENLARGEMENT. 



Hypertrophy of the heart imijlies augmentation of bulk in its muscu- 

 lar substance, with or without dilatation or contraction of its cavities. 

 It may exist with or without other cardiac affections. In valvular 

 disease or valvular iusufiticieucy hypertrophy frequently results as a 

 consequence of increased demand for propelling power. The difficul- 

 ties with which it is most frequently connected are dilatation and ossi- 

 fication of the valves. It may also occur in connection with atrophied 

 kidneys, weak heart, etc. It may be caused by an increased determi- 

 nation of blood to the organ, or from a latent form of myocarditis, and 

 it may arise from a long-continued increase of action dependent upon 

 nervous disease. All the cavities of the heart may have their walls hy- 

 pertrophied or the thickening may involve one or more. While the wall 

 of a ventricle is thickened its cavity may retain its normal size — simple 

 hypertrophy — or be dilated — eccentric hypertrophy — or it may be con- 

 tracted — concentric hypertrophy. Hypertrophy of both ventricles in- 

 creases the length and breadth of the heart. Hypertrophy of the left 

 ventricle alone increases its length, of the right ventricle alone in- 



