LEFT VENTRICLE OF THE HEART IN A COW. 593 
not finding the least appearance of inflammation, I proceeded to 
lay open the heart. On exposing* the internal parts of the left 
ventricle my attention was immediately drawn to the appearance 
of that fine and delicate investment or lining* tunic. It assumed 
a beautiful variegated dark and light red, pointing out the seat 
of intense inflammation. Here and there were patches of a 
leaden hue, particularly on the auricle. Those prominent fleshy 
pillars termed the carneae columns were far advanced in putre- 
faction, extending even into the substance of the heart. For 
some distance several of the chordae tendinese were torn asunder. 
Some patches of inflammation were about the mouth of the aorta, 
and the semilunar valves had assumed a cartilaginous structure. 
The right ventricle was a little discoloured, but not amounting 
to disease. It was my intention to have sent you the heart, 
thinking it might be w'orth the attention of the Veterinary Me- 
dical Association ; but having to leave home for some time, I gave 
it to Mr. Rook, for a drawing, which you would probably re- 
ceive some time ago. Should you think it worth notice, you 
may lay it before the members of the Association, as I am de- 
sirous of knowing if similar cases have occured to any of them, 
and what is their opinion as to the cause. See. In my opinion, 
a thorough investigation into cardiac diseases is much called for 
in veterinary pathology. 
P.S. Since writing the above I have attended a mare for car- 
ditis: the particulars of the case I will send, should you consider 
such sufficiently interesting. 
[We shall be thankful for the communication to which Mr. 
Carlisle refers.] 
CASES OF CARDITIS. 
By Mr. J. J. Hughes, V.S., Foley , Staffordshire Potteries. 
1 was much pleased in reading a ** Case of Carditis” in 
one of your Journals, sent by Mr. Wheatley; and as I have met 
with a few interesting cases similar to his, I shall make some 
extracts from two or three of them, which are very much at your 
service. I recollect when at College, the heart’s action, in peri- 
carditis, was described as being very loud, capable of being heard 
at a distance of 10 or 15 yards. Notwithstanding this high autho- 
rity, I do submit that in 19 out of 20 cases of simple pericar- 
ditis the action of the heart will not be heard without mediate 
or immediate auscultation. In endocarditis or carditis, I allow 
there will be this violent action ; but in pericardiac inflammation 
VOL. XIV. 4 I 
