362 The Management and Diseases of the Dog: 
Valvular disease of the heart, as I have previously, in 
another section, observed, is a frequent and serious compli- 
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 acure ina 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 treatment. 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 
