240 DISEASES OF THE HEART. 



the writers on the veterinary art have seemed to he unaware of the importance 

 of the organ, and the maladies to which it is exposed. The owner of the horse 

 and the veterinary profession generally, are deeply indebted to Messrs. Percivall 

 and Pritchard* for much valuable information on this subject. The writer of this 

 work acknowledges his obligation to both of these gentlemen. To Dr. Hope 

 also, and particularly to Laennec, we owe much. Mr. Percivall well says, 

 "This class of diseases may be regarded as the least advanced of any in 

 veterinary medicine — a circumstance not to be ascribed so much to their 

 comparative rarity, as to their existing undiscovered, or rather being con- 

 founded during life with other disorders, and particularly with pulmonary 

 affections." 



The best place to examine the beating of the heart is immediately behind 

 the elbow, on the left side. The hand applied flat against the ribs will give 

 the number of pulsations. The ear thus applied will enable the practitioner 

 better to ascertain the character of the pulsation. The stethoscope affords an 

 uncertain guide, for it cannot be flatly and evenly applied. 



Pericarditis. — The bag, or outer investing membrane of the heart, is liable 

 to inflammation, in which the effused fluid becomes organized, and deposited in 

 layers, increasing the thickness of the pericardium, and the difficulty of the 

 expansion and contraction of the heart. The only symptoms on which de- 

 pendence can be placed, are a quickened and irregular respiration; abounding 

 action of the heart in an early stage of the disease ; but that, as the fluid 

 increases and becomes concrete, assuming a feeble and fluttering character. 



Hydrops Pericardii is the term used to designate the presence of the 

 fluid secreted in consequence of this inflammation, and varying from a pint to 

 a gallon or more. In addition to the symptoms already described, there is an 

 expression of alarm and anxiety in the countenance of the animal which no 

 other malady produces. The horse generally sinks from other disease, or from 

 constitutional irritation, before the cavity of the pericardium is filled ; or if he 

 lingers on, most dreadful palpitations and throbbings accompany the advanced 

 stage of the disease. It is seldom or never that this disease exists alone, but is 

 combined with dropsy of the chest or abdomen. 



Carditis is the name given to inflammation of the muscular substance of 

 the heart. A well authenticated instance of inflammation of the substance of 

 the heart does not stand on record. Some other organ proves to be the chief 

 seat of mischief, even when the disturbance of the heart has been most 

 apparent. 



Inflammation op the Lining of the Heart. — Mr. Simpson relates, in 

 The Veterinarian for 1834, a case in which there were symptoms of severe 

 abdominal pain ; the respiration was much disturbed, and the action of the 

 heart took on an extraordinary character. Three or four beats succeeded to 

 each other, so violently as to shake the whole frame, and to be visible at the 

 distance of several yards, with intervals of quietude of five minutes or more. 

 At length this violent beating became constant. 



On dissection both lungs were found to be inflamed, the serum in the 

 pericardium increased in quantity, and the internal membrane of the heart 

 violently inflamed, with spots of ecchymosis. 



This would seem to be a case of inflammation of the heart ; but in a consi- 

 derable proportion of the cases of rabies, these spots of ecchymosis, and this 

 general inflammation of the heart, are seen. 



Hypertrophy is an augmentation or thickening of the substance of the 

 heart ; and although not dreamed of a few years ago, seems now to be a disease of 



• See Piitchard's papers in the Veterinarian, vol, vi., and Percivall's Hppopathologv, vol. ii. 

 Part I. i r r 6. > 



