RUPTURE OF LARGE VESSELS. 



483 



The symptomatology and diagnosis of aneurism of the aorta are 

 much more complete and precise in man than in our domestic 

 animals. Physical examination upon the latter is nearly always 

 impossible ; in the horse, percussion and auscultation of the aorta 

 are impracticable. In man, the characteristic symptoms are the 

 following : 



1. Dyspnœa at the time of pulmonary compression, 



2. Swelling of the jugulars, vertigo, cyanosis, dropsies, when the 

 aneurismal tumor compresses large veins. 



3. Neuralgias of the intercostal and brachial plexus nerves, through 

 the compression and traction exerted by the aneurism. 



4. Very small pulse, which is even imperceptible on one side (com- 

 pression of an arterial trunk through aneurism) ; keeping back the 

 blood- wave and pulse, as a consequence of the slackening blood- 

 flow at the time it crosses the aneurismal dilatation. 



5. Paralysis of the left vocal cord when the aneurism com- 

 presses the recurrent nerve (similar to chronic wheezing of the 

 horse). 



6. Pulsatile tumor, giving a particular blowing or shuddering bruit; 

 in some cases this tumor is visible ; in others it may be recognized 

 through percussion. 



The consequences of aneurism of the anterior mesenteric has been 

 described in the article on Thrombo-embolic Colics. 



Treatment. In man we generally resort to galvano-puncture, 

 which is even applied upon the pectoral aorta ; injections of ergotin 

 are also used ; internally, we administer sugar of lead or iodide of 

 potassium. 



RUPTURE OP THE LARGE VESSELS OP THE 

 PECTORAL AND ABDOMINAL CAVITIES. 



Etiology. Rupture of the large vessels of the pectoral and 

 abdominal cavities must make us presuppose the existence of an 

 alteration of their wall, which is produced, either through chronic 

 endarteritis (arterio-sclerosis or atheromatous degeneration) or by 

 aneurism. The determinating causes are sometimes muscular exer- 

 tions (violent tractions — Prietsch), at other times a fall (Hering), 

 exceptionally vomiting (Straub), or excitement produced by vera- 

 trine used with therapeutic intent (Hering), etc. A partial destruc- 

 tion or perforation of the vascular walls may be the effect of an 



