572 
DISEASE OF THE HEART. 
stertorous breathing, with a frothy saliva continually running 
from the nose ; the heart’s action not perceptible : there being 
so violent a commotion of the whole body with a death-like 
coldness gradually stealing over the system. I told the 
owner, it was my opinion there was a rupture of the 
diaphragm ; and if so, it was a hopeless case, and useless 
giving any medicine ; but he not being satisfied with this, 
I made an attempt to give the remaining part of the dose 
which was left after the first trial : but while doing so, the 
animal instantly fell ; and having no power for some time to 
rise again, I w r aited about an hour ; when on entering the 
stable again, I found the extremities becoming warm, vision 
somewhat restored, breathing less laborious, and a slight 
beating of the heart perceptible : altogether, in fact, appearing 
better, I again made the attempt to give medicine. A 
draught composed of Sp. Nit. and Tinct. Opii, with an 
alkaline solution of Aloes, was horned down ; which in a 
short time gave much relief. In about an hour, the dose was 
repeated, after which he was quite relieved. Pulse now 
perceptible at the jaw, breathing tranquil, altogether quite 
improving. On the 27th much better; eats tolerably well. 
Gave febrifuge and slightly aperient medicines. On the 28th 
my assistant saw him ; he was still improving ; bowels acted 
upon. Continue febrifuge medicine. Appetite improving. 
Altogether so much better that the owner thought I need not 
see him next day. In the afternoon of the 29th, however, at 
4 o’clock, he was taken with the same symptoms as before. 
They again attempted to bleed, but could not. I was once 
more sent for ; but did not arrive before 1 1 o’clock p.m., at 
which time I found the symptoms as before, he frequently 
looking at his sides. I gave medicine as before, but he 
continued to get worse; and at 12 o’clock had his mouth 
open, frequently lifting up his head, and every time he did 
so there was a large quantity of white frothy liquor ejected 
from his nostrils, with a countenance of the most distressing 
character. He continued to get worse until about 2 o’clock, 
when he fell and died. 
Autopsy at 7 a.m. — Internal viscera, bowels and liver, 
healthy, lungs enlarged, and inflated, with spume ; and 
mostly of a pink hue, in places mottled with purple, except 
at their attachment to the spine and divisions of the trachea, 
where they were of a dark colour — I suppose from an inor- 
dinate congestion of the blood. No fluid in the thoracic 
cavity. The pericardium about half filled with a yellowish 
fluid; the membrane itself of a pinkish colour. Heart, large; 
right ventricle and auricle full of black blood in a fluid state; 
