Diseases of the Circulatory System. 181 
Teference to efficiency in various’ forms of sport, may 
remove the animal into the sphere of a new danger. Be 
this as it may, at present our list of diseases in connec- 
tion with this particular class of organs is surprisingly 
limited. 
Fatty Degeneration of the Heart is the common 
associate with asthma in pampered pets and constitutes a 
serious condition, the muscular tissue being replaced by 
adipose or fatty substance. The obvious result is a want 
of tone and energy in the beats or pulsations, and 
inability to propel the nutrient fluid along the channels 
of circulation. The various tissues therefore lack nourish- 
ment, become pallid and weak, which unfits the animal 
for any exertion, and a serious condition of the brain and 
nervous system is induced, not only in the want of 
nourishment, but in the defective supply of blood, 
syncope or fainting being a common symptom, sooner or 
later resulting in death. The disease is incurable, but 
may be prevented by permitting the animal to take 
regular exercise and other means -of stimulating the 
natural functions. 
Rupture of the Heart is not of common occurrence, 
but it is known in connection with improper feeding and 
want of judicious exercise. Dogs subjected to “a feast 
and a fast,” and other treatment calculated to militate 
against health and condition, are likely to induce some 
form of degeneration of the organ, and in a moment of 
excitement, whether of play or work, rupture takes place 
at the weakest part, and death is certain. 
Valvular Disease is not uncommon as the result of 
chronic rheumatism. It appears in the form of a deposit 
of fibrine from the blood, which may exist only as a 
roughness on the surface or be so large as to forma clot, 
and thus block up the opening to the vessels. Such con- 
ditions in their mildest form seriously interfere with the 
proper action of the valves, greatly diminishing the 
needful flow of blood; and when clots have formed the 
results are intensified, causing the patient to fall in 
repeated fits of fainting, or by completely plugging the 
vessels, sudden death is induced. Treatment is only 
