PROGRESS OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ART. 581 
the alternate contraction of the auricles and ventricles to be 
observed. The contractions of the heart resembled an undu- 
lating or vermicular movement. The left ventricle con- 
tracted most powerfully. On the first day the pulsations 
were 150 in a minute. On the second day, whilst the animal 
was more quiet, the pulse was only 108, and the respirations 
from 52 to 60. If disturbed, the pulse rose to 144 or even 
160 beats. A weight of two pounds was raised easily from 
the surface of the heart, by its contraction, and did not seem 
to impede its movements.’ 5 In attempting to ascertain the 
strength of the impulse or spring of the cavities of the heart 
and the temperature of the blood in both ventricles, the calf 
died, on the 15th of May, or the tenth day from its birth. 
Another case of thoracic ectopia cordis was described by 
Hering in the third number of the Repertorium for last year. 
The calf was born on the 23d of March, 1855, and though 
it gave evidence of life during delivery, it never drew breath. 
Hering is very distinct in saying that there was no trace of 
pericardium. Other anatomical details bear a close analogy 
to those already mentioned above. 
Gurlt, in his c Pathological Anatomy, 5 refers to two cases 
in puppies, observed by Regis ; the heart laid exposed so that 
its movements could be seen ; the one dog lived twelve hours, 
and the other more than a day. Gurlt speaks of them as 
cases of division of the chest, under the head Schistocormus 
jissislernalis. In the museum of the Berlin Veterinary School 
there are preparations from a calf and a lamb affected with 
cardiac ectopia. The pericardium is said to have been absent, 
as in all these cases. The calf died soon after birth, but the 
lamb lived four hours, and sucked its mother. 
Of the external thoracic displacements we have further : 
ec One observed by Martinez, in a foetus born at Madrid, 
1706, and described by Haller (‘ Disputat. Anat. Select.) 
The heart, devoid of pericardium, formed a muscular and 
compact mass in front of the chest, its apex being directed 
forwards, and its base backwards. It performed its alternate 
systole and diastole very vigorously ; during the latter it 
became oblong, whilst in the former it acquired an almost 
rounded form. The hand pressed on the heart for a short 
time interrupted the systole and diastole, but when removed 
the organ gradually resumed its action. A prolonged pres- 
sure considerably increased the rapidity of the respirations. 
The sternum was divided along its whole length. 
<c In 1745, a child (of full time) was born in Prussia with 
the heart external to the chest; with the exception of this it 
was well formed and in good condition. The heart had no 
