4IO Veterinary Medicine. 



dated with any further sign of heart disease, does not then possess 

 the significance generally attributed to it, but a careful examina- 

 tion of the heart should invariably be made when this functional 

 disorder is observed. It exists or may be brought about by slight 

 excitement in the great majority of heart diseases. 



In case of intermittent pulse it is useful to ascertain whether 

 there is also an intermission of the heart's beat, since in softening- 

 of the heart, that organ may beat without being able to transmit 

 the impulse along the artery. 



A pulse at once unequal and irregular is a much more serious 

 indication than a merely intermittent pulse. It is observed 

 especially in fatty degeneration of the muscular substance, and 

 with imperfection of the valves on the left side of the organ, 

 though it may be present in other cardiac diseases independent 

 of the existence of those lesions. 



In hypertrophy of the left ventricle, the pulse is full and strong 

 and the impulse appears prolonged, because of the greater length 

 of time taken up by the ventricle in the act of contraction. When. 

 dilatation coexists with hypertrophy, the impulse is still full and 

 strong, more blood being transmitted through the vessel ; but 

 when dilatation is combined with attenuation of the ventricular 

 walls the impulse is soft and weak by reason of the feebleness of 

 the contractions. 



The pulse at the radial artery should be about synchronous- 

 with the beat of the heart. If retarded it maybe held to indicate 

 the existence on the anterior aorta, or its primary divisions, of an 

 aneurism with elastic walls, or more probably an imperfectioii of 

 the aortic valves, which allows a regurgitation of the blood into 

 the heart. 



Venous pulse. A venous pulse seen in the lower end of the 

 jugular veins is common in the domestic animals. In the ox it is 

 quite compatible with health and is only to be judged by its am- 

 plitude and force. In other animals it often coexists with con- 

 gestion of the lungs, which impedes the circulation through the 

 right side of the heart and leads to engorgement of the venous 

 system. In the absence of this condition it frequently indicates 

 an imperfection of the auriculo-ventricular valves in the right 

 heart and a reflux of blood from the contracting ventricle, which 

 checks the descending current in the veins. 



