319 
RUPTURE OF THE PERICARDIUM, WITH EXTEN¬ 
SIVE DISEASE OF THE LUNGS, PLEURA, &c. IN 
A HEIFER.—CHRONIC DISEASE OF THE HEART 
IN A COW. 
By Mr. E. A. Friend, F..S., Walsall. 
On the 16th March, 1834, I was sent for by Mr. Wright, of 
Stonnall, near Lichfield, to examine a heifer that he had pur¬ 
chased about a fortnight previously. I found her much emaciated, 
the hide tight, and the coat staring; the eye sunken, with total 
loss of appetite, and the faeces of a dysenteric kind, together 
with a considerable affection of the thorax, but of such a nature 
that I could not ascertain its precise character. 
He requested my opinion as to her soundness at the time he 
had purchased her, he having had her (with others bought at 
the same time) warranted sound. I told him at once that I had 
not the slightest doubt of her having been decidedly unsound 
long before the time of purchase, and advised him instantly to 
write to the party from whom he had her. 
I grounded my opinion at that time partly on the general ap¬ 
pearance of the animal; partly on the nature of the faeces, which, 
when discharged, were covered with small gaseous globules, 
strongly indicating chronic disease of the mucous membrane of 
the intestines; and partly from the affection of the chest, which, 
though of a mixed indefinite character, vet appeared to me to be 
chronic: but more particularly I was led to this consideration 
from the appearance of the hide and coat. There is a peculiar 
sympathy in the skin with chronic disease of the thoracic and 
abdominal viscera; and in this case the hide was tight to the 
feel, and the hair bore the same resemblance to the bloom of 
healthy hair, that old thatch would do to reed newly cut. I sent 
some medicines for her, with directions for their exhibition ; and on 
the 28th instant I received a note from him stating that, during 
the time the heifer had been taking the medicines, she had been 
very much relieved, but that she had relapsed again. As soon 
as they were finished I then sent him some more, with further 
• * 
directions. 
I saw Mr. Wright again on the 9th April, and he then told 
me that the cow was better in her body, and that her appetite 
had improved very much, but yet that he thought her otherwise 
no better. 
I saw her again myself on the 14th, and there was an im¬ 
proved appearance in the coat, a brighter eye, a much better 
appetite, and the faces such as would be voided by a cow living 
