CASES FROM MY NOTE-BOOK. 
429 
diastolic sound, and which in this case was superseded by a 
murmur. If these valves were from any cause imperfect, 
the blood would, from the resiliency of the arteries, rush back 
into the ventricles, and thus evidently cause an unnatural 
sound. Was this the case? or did the murmur depend upon 
some morbid condition of the auriculo-ventricular valves, as 
the blood is proceeding on its ordinary route ? According to 
medical authors the former is by far the more common cause ; 
and this idea is borne out by the absence of the diastolic 
sound, which would probably have been easily distinguished 
had the arterial valves been natural. Presuming, then, that 
the valves of the aorta were imperfect, the other symptoms, 
both general and physical, are readily explained. The blood 
rushing back into the ventricle would distend it unnaturally, 
and greater effort would be required to empty it; therefore, 
the increased impulse, irregular action, &c. The ventricle 
being unnaturally distended would check the current from 
the auricles and gorge them ; from this the current in the 
pulmonary veins would be delayed, consequently the lungs 
would become congested, and from such a state one would 
infer that the cough, discharge from the nostrils, and the 
extreme dyspnoea after violent exercise arose. The staggering 
about, and other brain symptoms, would result from the 
irregular and imperfect supply of blood to the brain. 
I had intended appending a description of the post-mortem 
appearances to this case, but unfortunately the horse was 
killed a few weeks since without my knowledge, and there- 
fore this valuable opportunity of testing diagnosis by pathology 
was lost; but the exact correspondence of all the symptoms, 
general as well as auscultatory, with those described as 
occurring in man, leaves no doubt in my mind as to the 
nature of the case. I trust, however, that many readers of 
the Veterinarian will now record their experience on this 
subject, and thus help to show how far the heart is concerned 
in many affections of the respiratory functions ; the causes 
of which appear to me as yet but unsatisfactorily explained. 
CASES FROM MY NOTE-BOOK. 
By R. H. Dyer, M.R.C.Y.S., Waterford. 
PARALYSIS. 
Having, during the past twelve months, had several 
cases of paralysis under my care, I have thought a brief 
