THE CIECULATORY SYSTEM. 



219 



Malfokmations. — In tlie second volume of tlie ^Abstract 

 of Proceedings of the Veterinary Medical Association ' 

 (p. 355), will be found an account of a heart consisting of 

 three cavities only. Other imperfections of development 

 have been recorded. The most frequent is Cyanosis, 

 which consists in a pervious condition of foramen ovale, 

 whereby the venous and arterial currents of the blood 

 are constantly intermingled. Thus, every part of the 

 body is supplied only with partially purified blood. 

 The animal is practically in the condition of a reptile as 

 far as blood supply goes. Its functions are performed 

 slowly, its constitution is weak, its internal temperature 

 low, and its visible mucous membranes are constantly of a 

 purple or blue colour. Such animals generally die young. 

 This condition is seldom seen in the lower animals. 



Misplacements of the Heaet — Ectopia Coedis. — The 

 heart may be situated in front of the chest, in the neck. 



Fig. 34.— Ectopia cordis. (From Fleming's 'Veterinary Obstetrics.*) 



or be pressed backwards through an opening in the 

 imperfectly developed diaphragm into the abdomen, or, as 

 is more frequent, may be situated below the chest suspended 

 by the large blood-vessels of its base below the sternum, 

 the lateral elements of which have not united along the 



