HYPERTROPHY WITH DILATATION OF THE HEART. 207 
a supposition that was, on applying my ear to his side, confirmed ; 
for I found its pulsations not only exceedingly quick, but of a 
palpitating character, and very irregular. During the cessations 
of the beats there was a peculiar rustling or rather rubbing sound, 
as if the blood were detained in some cavity, and could only through 
a small outlet force its way out*. The breathing was but slightly 
quickened; the superficial veins, in general, more or less dis- 
tended. 
The animal was removed with great difficulty from his own 
stable to mine, a distance of about a furlong. On his arrival he 
appeared very much exhausted ; his respiration had become more 
accelerated and his jugular veins more dilated. J administered a 
fever draught, combined with two drachms of belladonna, band- 
aged his legs, and warmly clothed him ; but all to no purpose. 
8 th . — Symptoms unvaried, excepting that the quickness of 
breathing had abated. He is still dull and heavy about the eyes. 
Towards the evening, as he had passed no fseces from the time 1 
first saw him, notwithstanding several enemas had been adminis- 
tered, I ordered him a mild laxative in a fever draught. 
9 th — Bowels acted ; sheath and abdomen more swollen ; has 
staled freely ; the coldness of his body and extremities still con- 
tinues; and the conjunctival and buccal membranes have now a 
yellow tinge. 
He continued much in the same state until Saturday evening, 
the 14th, when he purged violently: notwithstanding, up to this 
time, after the administration of the laxative, his body was in 
very good order. I instantly administered astringents ; but the 
purging did not stop until the following evening. After this 
attack of diarrhoea, as might have been well expected, he became 
gradually weaker and weaker. He ate little or nothing from the 
time I first saw him ; but he was always very eager for water, 
and on no occasion attempted to lie down. 
16^A. — Heart’s action the same — respiration tranquil — coldness 
of extremities and surface of the body still continuing — fseces in 
good order. 
\lth. — No alteration. Towards the evening, however, he be- 
came so weak, that he was unable to move round the box. On 
the following morning, between ten and eleven o’clock, he fell, 
and died without a struggle. 
Post-mortem. — On opening the abdomen, a profusion of fluid 
gushed out ; indeed, the cavity appeared to have been com- 
* This, however, does not appear to have been the case. The sound 
described was owing to the reflux of the blood through the auriculo- 
ventricular openings, they being, in their dilated condition, but imperfectly 
closed by their valves. — Ed. Vet 
