364 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
to the mitral valve, the latter being much inflamed ; the 
tapering or pointed end was unattached. 
I have endeavoured, by means of the accompanying 
illustration, to give a more exact idea of the appearance 
the heart, valve, and clot presented (Fig. 33). 
The specimen was considered by several medical men 
to whom it was shown to be a very interesting and ex- 
ceptional one. 
Since writing the above, I have been informed that the 
dog was stolen in 1876, and nothing was seen or known of 
his whereabouts for a year, when he unexpectedly returned, 
and it is supposed by his mistress that during his absence 
he was roughly used, as his spirit seemed broken, and he 
chad the appearance of being much older than he really 
was. 
Rupture of the heart, not uncommon in the human sub- 
ject, and occasionally seen in the horse, is of rare occur- 
rence in the dog. 
“ A black pointer, of the Scotch breed, had every appear- 
ance of good health, except that she frequently fell into a 
fit after having run a little way, and sometimes even after 
playing inthe yard. She was several times bled during 
and after these fits. When I examined her, I could plainly 
perceive considerable, and even violent spasmodic motion 
of the heart, and the sounds of the beating of that organ 
were irregular and convulsive. She was sent to the in- 
firmary, in order to be cured of an attack of mange; but 
during her stay in the hospital she had these fits several 
times ; the attack almost always followed after she had been 
playing with other dogs. She appeared as if struck by 
lightning, and remained motionless for several minutes, her 
gums loosing their natural appearance, and assuming a 
bluish hue. After the lapse of a few minutes she again rose 
as if nothing had been the matter. She was bled twice in 
eight days, and several doses of fox-glove were administered 
‘to her. The fits appeared to become less frequent ; but, 
