321 
HYPERTROPHY OF THE HEART. 
move. The pulse was irregular, and considerably above the 
standard ; but as he had come a considerable way from the 
country, and up hill, and was completely drenched with rain, 
I could not form a decisive opinion of his case. I was inclined 
to think that it was a case of acute rheumatism or founder ; and 
that the peculiarity of the pulse might arise from exertion and 
pain in travelling. . ...... , 
He was bled, and a dose of physic given, with directions to 
bandage his legs, and keep him dry and warm; and the people 
were ordered to let me know how he was next morning.. 
Notice was given me on the following day that the animal was 
much worse, and my immediate attendance was necessary. On 
mv arrival I found him in the most pitiable condition. He was 
standing with his fore legs extended wide—the nostrils dilated— 
the breathing quick and laborious—his eyes sunk in their orbits 
—the pupils dilated—and a whitish humour discharging from 
the eyelids. He was turning round his nose almost to the 
elbows, and sighing now and then; his countenance shewing ap¬ 
proaching dissolution. The pulse had a most pecuhai irregular 
motion, and the undulation in the jugular veins was extending 
up to the root of the ears. I saw that death was fast approach- 
ino- and requested the owner to let me know when he died, that 
1 mio-ht inspect his chest. He expired a few hours afterwards. 
I proceeded to open the chest by sawing off a portion of the 
ribs and sternum, in order to have a full view ot its contents. 
There was considerable inflammation of the lungs and the pleura. 
The pericardium was much inflamed and distended to a large size ; 
its cavity contained a fluid of a reddish colour, a,nd of consider¬ 
able quantity. The heart was of an enormous size, and greatly 
inflamed. Both the auricles and ventricles were full of coagu¬ 
lated blood. Their parietes were relaxed, and those and the 
greater part of the cordse tendinese had given way. The valves 
did not approximate to perform their function ; the foramen ovale 
was also dilated. It was, upon the whole, a large disorganized 
mass, weighing thirty-four imperial pounds. . , 
This animal w^as in the owner’s possession for some time ; had 
never been at quick or very laborious work; nor, so far as he 
knew, over-exercised. He worked constantly on the faim. 
