831 
CASE OF HYPERTROPHIED HEART IN A 
WAGGON GELDING. 
By J. W. Hill, M.R.C.V.S., Wolverhampton. 
I have forwarded for your inspection, per train to-day, a 
specimen of diseased heart of a horse, in which you will see 
there is considerable hypertrophy, especially of the left 
ventricle, together with an abnormal condition of the valves 
at the auricular ventricular opening, which are somewhat 
thickened and imperfect in their closure ; there was no 
effusion in the pericardium. The heart, prior to being 
emptied of its blood, weighed a little over 21 lbs., and is now 
15 lbs. I may say that I have made but a casual examina- 
tion of it, in order that you might see it as much as possible 
in its entirety. 
The history of the case, which I will briefly give, is as 
follows : 
On Wednesday, March 15th, I was requested to attend at 
Sedgley, to examine a bay waggon gelding, six years old. 
Upon my arrival, I was informed by the owner that the animal 
had been ill a w*eek, and for the last three or four days had 
been noticed to stagger occasionally, and if hurried in turning, 
fell down, and was unable to rise again for some time, and 
that he had been the subject of these attacks twice or three 
times a day. 
The patient, when I saw him, exhibited the following 
symptoms : — Pulse 30, oppressed ; visible mucous membranes 
vascular ; loss of appetite ; laboured respiration. A short dry 
cough (which he had had for some time), and inability to 
move without danger of falling. 
I immediately applied blisters to sides and chest, 
administered a diffusible stimulant, and ordered for diet 
gruel, mashes, scalded hay, and a few carrots. 
The following day, though he appeared stronger on his legs, 
and could move round if carefully turned ; the pulse was 
lower and more oppressed than previously, intermittent, and 
varied each minute in its pulsations, sometimes only number- 
ing 18. I felt now convinced, from these symptoms, 
together with the history given me, that the heart w^as 
affected, and told the owner to that effect ; the blisters, which 
had scarcely acted, were repeated with good effect. The 
treatment throughout the case was diffusible stimulants and 
tonics, a rowel in the meantime being inserted in the chest. 
