235 



and infiltration, atrophy of the muscular fibers, may all lead to dilata- 

 tion. 



Symptoms. — The movements of the heart are feeble and prolonged, a 

 disposition to staggering or vertigo, dropsy of the limbs, very pale or 

 very dark-colored membranes, and difficult breathing on the slightest 

 excitement. 



Treatment. — General tonics, rich food, and rest. 



FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE HEART. 



Fatty degeneration may involve the whole organ, or may be limited 

 to its walls, or even to circumscribed patches. The latter is situated at 

 theexterior, and givesit a mottled appearance. When generally involved 

 it is tiabby or flacci<l, and in extreme cases collapses when emptied^r 

 cut. Upon dissection the interior of the ventricles is observed to be 

 covered with buff-colored spots of a singular zigzag form. This ap- 

 X)earance may be noticed beneath the pericardium, and pervading the 

 whole thickness of the ventricular walls, and in extreme cases those of 

 the fleshy columns in the interior of the heart. These spots are found 

 to be degenerated muscular fibers and colonies of oil-globules. Fatty 

 degeneration is often associated with other morbid conditions of the 

 heart, as obesity, <lilatation, rupture, aneurism, etc. It may be con- 

 nected with fatty diseases of other organs, as the liver, kidneys, etc. 

 When it exists alone its presence is seldom suspected previous to death. 

 It may be secondary to hypertrophy of the heart, to myocarditis, or to 

 pericarditis. It may be due to deteriorated conditions of the blood in 

 wasting diseases, excessive hemorrhages, etc., or to poisoning with ar- 

 senic and phosphorus. 



Symptoms. — The most prominent symptoms of fatty degeneration are 

 a feeble action of the heart, a remarkably slow pulse, general debility, 

 and attacks of vertigo. It may exist for a long time, but is apt to sud- 

 denly terminate in death upon the occurrence of other diseases, surgical 

 operations, etc. It may involve a liability to sudden death from rupture 

 of the ventricular walls. 



Treatment. — Confinement in feed to oats, wheat or rye bran, and 

 timothy hay. Twenty drops of sulphuric acid may be given in drink- 

 ing-water three times a day, and hypophosphite of iron in 2-dram doses, 

 mixed with the feed twice a day. Other tonics and stimulants as they 

 may be indicated. 



ATROPHY OF THE HEART — WASTING. 



A diminution of muscular substance of the heart and consequent de- 

 crease in bulk and weight. It is generally' due to imperfect nutrition 

 from occlusion of the blood-vessels which supply it. 



Symptoms. — The heart beat is weak and hardly perceptible ; the area 

 of dullness over the region of the heart is lessened. Further than this 



