FATTY DEGENERATION OF THE HEART. 



Causes, improvement in the direction of easy fattening, inactive life, best 

 breeds of butcher cattle and pigs suffer. Symptoms : weak, irregular, inter- 

 mittent pulse, palpitation, unfitness for exertion, general heart symptoms. 



In addition to the fibrous and bony transformations to which 

 the substance of the heart's walls is subject, a fatty metamorphosis 

 is frequently met with. In most cases the fat accumulates in 

 great masses externally (cor adiposum), but in others the mus- 

 cular tissue has to a greater or less extent lost its natural struc- 

 ture and fatty granules have taken the place of the sarcous ele- 

 ments (fatty degeneration). In overfed oxen, sheep and swine, 

 the right cavities of the heart rarely escape dilatation, and this 

 condition is very often accompanied by the fatty change. 

 Virchow has shown that high-bred English pigs imported into 

 Germany are subject to a similar affection of the entire muscular 

 system. It may occur during wasting diseases and from phos- 

 phorous, lead, antimonial or arsenical poisoning. 



In solipeds, it occurs in connection with maladies which inter- 

 fere with the blood supply to the cardiac walls, as in pericarditis, 

 atheromatous or other contraction of the coronary arteries, pul- 

 monary emphysema, hydropericardium ; or that interfere with 

 the metabolic changes in the organ (strangles, influenza, con- 

 tagious pneumonia.) 



In dogs, it follows distemper, pericarditis, compression or nar- 

 rowing of the coronary arteries, tuberculosis, emphysema, and 

 in old, pampered, overfed animals. 



The symptoms are weak, irregular and intermitting pulse, pal- 

 pitation on excitement, weakness of the heart's impulse in the 

 intervals, incapacity for exertion, sighing, Cheyne-Stokes respira- 

 tion, loss of control over the limbs when hurriedly driven and 

 tendency to dropsy. It is often associated with dilatation, is rarely 

 distinguishable from it in life, and is equally beyond remedial 

 measures. The feeding animals most commonly affected can 

 usually be fattened if removed from all sources of excitement. 

 In case of phosphorous, antimonial or arsenical poisoning, im- 

 provement takes place when the poison is stopped. 



In dyspnceic attacks, relief may be had from the inhalation of 

 amyle nitrite, and the tone of the heart may be improved by 

 nux vomica, caffeine or convalaria. 



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