PALPITATIONS IN THE HORSE. 



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we must use a capillary needle and Pravaz's syriuge. In the dog, 

 we puncture in the centre of the dull zone. The general weakness 

 and atony of the heart must be combated with stimulants: wine, 

 camphor, coffee, alcohol, ether, etc. 



We designate under the name of hydro-pericardium or dropsy of 

 the pencardium the collection in it of a variable quantity of trans- 

 udated liquid. Hydro-pericardium always constitutes a secondary 

 disease which is produced by mechanical obstacles to the circulation 

 of the blood (chronic heart diseases, chronic nephritis, hydremia). 

 From a clinical standpoint it is characterized by the disappearance 

 of the heart impulse, weakness of the sounds of this organ, and the 

 increased extent of the precordial dulness. 



PALPITATIONS AND "ABDOMINAL PULSATIONS" 

 OP THE HORSE : CHOREA OP THE DIAPHRAGM. 



Definition. Under the name of " palpitation in the horse 

 morbid conditions have been described which have nothing in com- 

 mon between themselves, and authors have advanced veiy different 

 opinions upon the subject. If in certain cases palpitations observed 

 in the horse seem identical with those of man (which are due to 

 a cardiac neurosis), they mostly differ radically from these, and are 

 produced by diaphragmatic spasms. Several reasons, however, 

 have induced us to outline these various complications in a simple 

 article : first, the pathology of the majority of them is of the most 

 obscure kind ; again, all are marked by convulsive movements of 

 the chest and abdomen ; finally, all have been confounded under the 

 generic denomination of palpitations. 



1. True palpitations are the expression of a cardiac neurosis with- 

 out any apparent anatomical alterations. Some animals are pre- 

 disposed to it. Among the causes which determine it we mention: 

 intense excitement produced by excessive exertions, brutal use of 

 the whip (Soumille), catching in the tether during the night 

 (Johne), a too severe pulHng upon the reins by the rider (Al- 

 brecht), etc. The increased force of the cardiac impulse which is 

 observed in the course of hypertrophy of the heart, chronic endo- 

 carditis, valvular lesions, must be distinguished from palpitations; 

 the same is the case with the bounding impulse which is observed 

 in anemia, leukemia, and in cases of serious disturbance of general 

 nutrition or heart atrophy. 



