OBSERVATIONS ON SOME DISEASES OF THE HEART. 435 
the horns and ears alternately hot and cold — the excrement co- 
vered with mucus — the abdomen slightly protruding on the left 
side — searching constantly on every side for a cold place on which 
to lay herself down when she was out of doors. 
“The proprietor attributed all this to the straw, of which the 
animal had eaten a great quantity, although he confessed that 
he had often done the same with his other cattle without any ill 
consequence. I called to his recollection that we had bled this 
cow in the preceding year on account of some strange irritation 
that she seemed to labour under, and when she had fits of colic, 
and temporary diminution of the secretion of milk. In the 
months of June and August similar attacks were combatted with 
success by the same means. From that period there was no re- 
turn of the disease until to-day, when nearly the same symptoms 
reappeared, assuming greater intensity, and lasting for a longer 
time. I told him that I suspected the existence of some organic 
affection, although I was unable to say positively in what part 
the mischief lay : therefore I confined myself to combatting the 
irritation and the slight degree of hoove. 
“ I administered a pound of olive oil, and every third hour after- 
wards a quart of infusion of linseed ; the latter being also ap- 
plied as an injection. She soon appeared to be a little more 
sensible to surrounding objects, and, after twenty-four hours, be- 
gan to exhibit a desire to eat ; and thus she continued until the 
26th, when there was a sudden aggravation of the symptoms. 
I continued the same antiphlogistic means, in the hope that I 
might at length conquer the irritation produced in the anterior 
digestive organs by the presence, I imagined, of some indigesti- 
ble matter, and suspecting also that there might be some organic 
disease. 
“ Dec. \th . — She is better, and ruminates ; but the irritation 
continues. 
“5th. — Improving. She was let out into the yard with the other 
cows, and she appeared to be in good spirits, searching for some- 
thing to eat, and skirmishing with another cow. A little w 7 hile 
afterwards, however, she was evidently depressed, and an cede- 
matous enlargement began to appear on the neck, which the 
farmer thought had been caused by the blow of a horn. 
“6th . — After a careful examination I was convinced that this 
swelling was symptomatic, for it extended from the chest to the 
lower jaw. There was also a sudden and strange loss of flesh 
about the thorax. 
“ 7th . — I deeply scarified these enlargements, and a great quan- 
tity of coloured serous fluid escaped. Pledgets of tow covered 
with salt were introduced into the incisions, and aromatic drinks 
administered. 
