624 
ANEURISM, FOLLOWED BY RUPTURE OF THE 
HEART, IN A HORSE. 
By F. C. Heckmeyer, V.S, 
On the 1st of April, 1831, I was requested to see a thirteen- 
year-old black mare, which, as I well knew, had been for some 
time broken-winded, and which was now said to be suffering 
from violent colic. Shortly after my arrival, the animal expired. 
Outwardly there was nothing remarkable about the mare, ex- 
cepting that the mucous membrane of the rectum was of a 
whiter colour than usually is the case. 
On a post-mortem examination two hours after death, we found 
the chest to be completely full of coagulated blood, which ap- 
pearance led me to suppose that the cause of death had been 
rupture of the aorta, arising from previously existing aneurism. 
The heart was in an unnatural state. I found the pericardium 
torn on the right side ; and in the right cavity of the heart, at 
the distance of about five inches from the point, there was a rent 
or opening of about an inch and a half long, corresponding with 
that of the pericardium. The edges of this rupture were irre- 
gular and uneven, and giving rise to various filaments or threads. 
The walls of this cavity, especially near the place of the rupture, 
were thin, and, in consequence of this, dilated and elevated at 
this part, so that a perfect aneurisma cordis was here formed. 
The whole of the heart appeared to me to be enlarged. 
The true cause of the formation of these aneurismata cordis 
was unknown. It might have arisen from hard work ; but the 
rupture was doubtless caused by violent exertion and over-exer- 
cise, since the animal had contrived to get loose in the stall, made 
its escape, galloped for half an hour before it could be caught ; 
and, as soon as this had been with much difficulty accomplished, 
and it was brought back to the stable, fell suddenly, and, after 
several ineffectual attempts to rise, died. In what manner the 
rapid motion and exertion, combined with the presence of the 
aneurisma cordis , produced the rupture of the heart, is worthy of 
inquiry. 
The intestines were in their natural state, and, although the 
animal was broken-winded, the lungs appeared perfectly sound, 
and no trace of decomposition was observable in any part of them. 
That celebrated French veterinarian, Godine, would here 
assert that the symptoms of broken-wind arose from the disease 
of the heart; but I cannot agree with him in his opinion on this 
point, as my own experience leads me to a very different conclusion. 
— Magazin fur de Gesammte Thierheilkunde , 1841, vol. vii, 
p. 185. 
