DISTENTION OF THE AURICLE, &C. OF THE HEART. 55 
were observed : — the mucous surfaces pale ; the mouth hot and 
dry : the pulse irregular and small ; five or six beats very slow, 
full, and soft, were followed by several very quick, small, and 
wiry : the pulse was, notwithstanding, not more than 50 per 
minute. The contractions of the heart could be easily felt on 
both sides. The respiration was fifteen to sixteen per minute. 
On making the patient get up, it ate a little hay with seeming 
good appetite, nor did the colt appear to be very ill. 
The only remedies prescribed for the moment were the ab- 
straction of about five pounds of blood, with dry frictions applied 
to the whole surface of the body; and, as the day was closing, 
a man was appointed to watch the animal during the night, with 
orders to send for Herr S. in case the complaint increased. In 
the morning, the report from the man was, that the colt had been 
quiet during the night, and had eaten nearly one-half of its 
ration, and had only lain down twice ; but that at each time of 
lying down, as well as after getting up, had reeled about a good 
deal. The dung and urine had been regularly voided during 
the night. Examination gave the following results: — Great 
prostration of strength ; head and neck hanging down ; eyesight 
weak ; pulse and respiration the same as on the previous even- 
ing. The colt expressed great pain on pressing the right pariety 
of the chest, and auscultation in the region of the heart betrayed 
a peculiar dull, respiratory murmur, similar to that present in 
pericarditis — a combination often found in influenza. On having 
the patient led out of the stable the giddiness increased so much 
that, if it had not been supported on both sides, it would un- 
avoidably have fallen to the ground. And if, when quiet, the 
head was suddenly elevated, the patient would reel backwards, 
and fall. It was difficult, from these pathologic symptoms, to 
decide whether the case was one of affection of the brain (ver- 
tigo), or inflammation of the heart (carditis). In favour of the 
first, there was the giddiness, reeling, falling about, and great 
prostration of strength — symptoms always to be found in con- 
gestion of the brain. On the other hand, the great irregularity 
of the pulse, the increased respiration, the sensibility on pres- 
sure in the region of the heart, the paleness of the mucous 
membranes, and particularly the dull respiratory murmur in the 
chest, seemed to point more to affection of the latter organ. 
The Medical Treatment consisted in repeating the bleeding 
to the amount of four pounds, in the insertion of a seton in the 
chest, and in giving internally kali nitr. et kali sulph. in large 
doses. The diet ordered to consist of bran and good meadow 
hay. Eventually, the colt got better. The appetite returned, 
the giddiness disappeared, and there was a gradual return 
to health. The pulse, however, was only from *28 to 30 per 
