108 Tlie Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



Of these the jerking, intermittent, unequal and irregular 

 pulses are especially indicative of heart-disease. The 

 jerking pulse is associated with disease of the valves at 

 ithe commencement of the great aorta which carries blood 

 from the left side of the heart, and is accompanied by a 

 hissing or sighing noise with the second heart sound. 

 The intermittent pulse impUes functional derangement of 

 the heart but not necessarily disease of structure. The 

 unequal and irregular pulse is met in cases of fatty degen- 

 eration, disease of the valves on the left side, cardiac dila- 

 tation, etc. A retarded pulse in which the beat of heart 

 and pulse follow each other with a perceptible interval 

 imphes imperfect closure of the valves at the commence- 

 ment of the aorta, or an aneurism on the aorta. A venous 

 pulse seen in the jugular veins in the furrow near the 

 lower border of the neck attends imperfect valves between 

 the auricle and ventricle on the right side of the heart, or 

 congested lungs but may exist in health. 



Palpation. The application of the hand over the chest 

 behind the left elbow wiU detect any violent and tumultu- 

 ous beating, irregularity in the force of successive beats, etc. 

 Auscultation. The ear apphed to the same part will 

 detect a slight rubbing sound with each heart-beat in the 

 early stages of pericarditis. It wiU also detect any mod- 

 ification of the heart sounds. In health each beat of the 

 heart is characterized by two distinct successive sounds, 

 the first somewhat dull and prolonged, the second short, 

 sharp and abi'upt. The first sound is simultaneous with 

 the contraction and emptying of the ventricles, the closure 

 of the valves between the ventricles and auricles and the 

 flow of blood into the arteries. The second corresponds 

 to the completion of these acts, the recoil of blood in the 

 arteries and the closure of the valves between them and 

 the heart. The following table will show the significance 

 of the various superadded sounds (blowing, sighing, purr- 

 ing or hissing murmurs,) to any one who wiU acquaizil 

 himself with the course of blood through the heart : 



