Diagnosis, Treatment. 1075 



exactly by continued observation of the animals. In making 

 a diagnosis, chronic endocarditis, chronic pericarditis and 

 chronic pulmonary affections must especially enter into con- 

 sideration. 



Treatment. In very ill animals which have become useless 

 for work, no opportunity is offered for treatment, because such 

 ammals are usually disposed of otherwise. In other cases a 

 similar therapeutic proceeding is indicated as in dilatation of 

 the heart (see p. 1068). 



Literature. Ball, J. vet., 1906. 344. — Polger, Monh., 1909. XX. 348. — 

 Horvath, A. L., 1906. 182. — Laszlo, ibid., 1906. 219. — Pr. Mil. Vb., 1900. 147. — 

 Zschokke, Schw. A., 1900. XLII. 193. 



Ossification of the Heart Muscle. This is an extremely rare dis- 

 ease, which so far has usually been observed only in older animals, 

 exceptionally in younger animals (by Cadiot in a five-year-old pony) 

 and in cattle (Marty, Joest). The cause of the condition is unknown. 

 Stoss speaks of an extensive irritation produced by great variations in 

 the blood pressure. The ossification begins almost without exception in 

 the wall of the right auricle. At first connective tissue proliferation 

 occurs, then calcification and finally islands or platelets consisting of 

 spongy bone substances. By union of these bone plates, which occurs 

 later on, the wall of the auricle may eventually be transformed into 

 a large connected bony plate. The process of ossification does not pro- 

 gress beyond the place where the veins open into the heart. The ossified 

 auricle is usually considerably enlarged, full and tense. 



In lighter cases the ossification of the auricle does not interfere 

 noticeably with the heart action. If, however, the process is more 

 extensive, signs of heart weakness become manifest during work, and 

 later on also at rest. The cause of these signs cannot be determined 

 during the life of the animal. 



Literature. Joest, Dresdn. B., 1908. 17.5. — Kruger, B. t. W., 1892. 509. — 

 Nocard, Bull., 1884. 236. — StosS, D. Z. f. Tm., 1888. XIII. 301 (Lit). 



7. Fatty Heart. Cor Adiposum. 



Etiology. In a general increase of fat deposits the thin 

 fat layer, which is normally present underneath the serous 

 covering of the heart, increases considerably, so that it covers 

 the surface- of the heart as a connected layer up to several 

 millimeters in thickness, and may, moreover, form in places 

 considerable fat deposits and polypoid nodes. This condition 

 is observed preferably in obese animals, especially in fat house 

 dogs ; exceptionally a fatty degeneration of the heart muscles 

 develops simultaneously with the degeneration of the proto- 

 plasm in intoxications and in infectious diseases. 



The excessive deposit of fat becomes of importance because the 

 fat accumulates not only on the outer surfaces of the muscles, but also 

 between the muscular fibers which are then forced apart, at the same 



