34° THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



The specimen was considered by several medical men to 

 whom it was shown to be a very interesting and exceptional 

 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 had 

 the appearance of being much older than he really was. 



Rupture of the heart, not uncommon in the human subject, 

 and occasionally seen in the horse, is of rare occurrence 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 play- 

 ing in the yard. She was several times bled during and 

 after these fits. When I examined her, I could plainly per- 

 ceive considerable, and even violent spasmodic motion of the 

 heart, and the sounds of the beating of that organ were ir- 

 regular and convulsive. She was sent to the infirmary, in 

 order to be cured of an attack of mange ; but during her stay 

 in the hospital she had these fits several t imes ; 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 losing their natural 

 appearance, and assuming a bluish hue. After the lapse of 

 a few minutes she again arose 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, playing one day with another dog, 

 she fell and expired immediately. 



" The /(7j/-z«^r/,?/« examination was made two hours after 

 death. The cavity of the pericardium contained a red clot of 

 blood, which enveloped the whole of the heart ; it was thicker 

 in the parts that corrresponded with the valve of the heart ; 

 and on the left ventricle, and near the base of the left valve 



