OF VETERINARY MEDICINE-. 201 



heart and all the successive morbid changes follow each other 

 in comparatively slow processes. 



When vegetations form upon the inflamed membrane, por- 

 tions are liable to break off and be carried elsewhere by the 

 blood, thus constituting emboli, which arc capable of suddenly 

 plugging certain vessels and thereby interrupting important 

 functions. In most cases of either acute or subacute cases of 

 endocarditis the most alarming symptoms disappear in a week 

 or ten days but they usually leave the heart in such an impaired 

 condition that the circulation is abnormal for a long time after- 

 ward. These changes usually consist of thickening or induration 

 of the membrane lining the cavities of the heart. Especially do 

 these changes persist if the valves of the heart have been in- 

 volved in the inflammation. Even a slight attack of inflammation 

 will render tliem less flexible than normal so that the free 

 passage of the blood is interfered with and furthermore they 

 cannot close up tiglitly so that some blood escapes at each con- 

 traction. The resultant efforts of the heart to compensate this 

 condition leads to hypertrophy of its walls, more particularly of 

 the left wall, thereby producing fullness of the capillaries in 

 the lungs, pressure upon the air cells, diflicult or asthmatic 

 breathing and in a few months complete disability. The weak 

 heart and inability to work finally results in a dropsical condition 

 of the extremities and passive congestion of the kidneys may 

 follow. Valvular disease follows a large per cent of cases of 

 acute endocarditis, which is of itself seldom fatal in its early 

 stages. 



SemcioJogw — There may be a chill with a sudden rise of tem- 

 perature. The heart beats hard and the pulse is irregular. If 

 the animal is compelled to trot there is evidence of great pain, 

 difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. If the valves of 

 the right side are affected we shall find a jugular ])ulse. The 

 pulse is always fast. The animal is not disposed to eat much, 

 the surface of his body is cold, mucous membranes may be 

 cyanotic and in nearly all cases there is suppression of the urinary 

 secretion. In fatal cases death occurs about the fourth day. 

 Endocarditis may be suspected in all cases where the symp- 



