362 Tlie Management and Diseases of the Dog, 



Valvular disease of the heart, as I have previously, in 

 another section, observed, is a frequent and serious conjpli- 

 cation of rheumatism. When such a condition is present, 

 the intermittent, jerking, feeble pulse, the short, sudden 

 inspiration and sharp cry, on violent exercise or rapid 

 movement, frequently accompanied by a fall, as if shot, 

 are the symptoms presented to us in this malady. 



Post-mortem Appearances. — On examination, the valves 

 are found considerably thickened, and granular on their 

 surfaces. (In horses I have frequently observed this latter 

 condition.) It is also not unusual to find adhesion of the 

 pericardium to the heart, or an excess of serum, in which 

 lymph or fibrine may be deposited. 



Treatment. — Any hope of a cure in a disease of this nature 

 must, it is almost needless to observe, be abandoned. Having 

 reason to believe that rheumatic disease of the heart exists, 

 it behoves us to avoid, or give instructions for the avoidance 

 of, those causes likely to result in alarming seizures, such as I 

 have described, or sudden death. Shocks, frights, rapid 

 exercise, exposure to cold or intense heat, should, as far as 

 possible, be prevented. The animal should be kept well 

 nourished, and small doses of the iodide of iron may be 

 given from time to time, and in severe palpitation with 

 pain, sedatives, with counter-irritation over the left side,, 

 may be had recourse to. Constipation, diarrhoea, or, 

 indeed, anything causing the patient to strain, must also' 

 be avoided. 



The following case of heart disease, associated with 

 rheumatism and chorea, recently came under my observa- 

 tion. 



In December, 1877, a fox-terrier dog, about six years 

 old, belonging to Miss Walker, of Bromley House, Penn,. 

 was brought to me for treatmerit. I found the animal 

 suffering from rheumatic chorea, and I was informed by 

 the owner that when purchased at nine months old, he at 

 that time never stood perfectly still, but always shook 



