182 
Translations and Reviews of Continental 
Veterinary Journals, 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
Journal des Veterinaires du Midi, Toulouse, Dec., 1861. 
TWO CASES OE PALPITATION OE THE HEART IN THE 
HORSE. 
By M. Boiteatj, Veterinary Surgeon, &c. 
Palpitation of the heart, or disease described under that 
name, has given rise to different opinions as to its nature. 
Some say that it is only a sudden contraction of the abdo¬ 
minal muscles ; others that it is a spasmodic contraction of the 
diaphragm; and finally others, that it is a contraction of the 
heart. In the following cases, the author says, I will direct 
the attention of the profession to the seat and apparent cause 
of this malady, which has occurred simultaneously in two 
horses in the same stable, and which had been subjected to 
the same regimen, and the same kind of work. 
On the 24th of March last, I was sent for by a miller to 
attend two horses which had been ill since the morning. The 
information obtained was that there was no loss of appetite, 
and they were as lively as usual, except that they hung down 
their heads a little in the morning; but this soon passed off. 
On the previous day, they had been a journey to another mill 
with a load of wheat, a distance of eight kilometres. During 
their stay, which had only been for half an hour, they had 
eaten some bad musty hay; they had also cropped a little of 
the green corn which had germinated near the mill. They 
were in good condition, appeared lively, and were inclined to 
feed. In the left flank, or rather in the left hypochondriac 
region, was perceived a strong jerking motion, like that ac¬ 
companying broken wind, but much more violent. The 
frame was shaken by it, and a short broken expiration took 
place at each of these movements. The beating of the heart 
could not be detected by the application of the hand to the 
side. Careful auscultation continued for a certain time, gave 
only the ordinary bruits, but somewhat attenuated and cor¬ 
responding with the pulsation of the arteries. The respiration 
was regular, as in the normal state, but interrupted by the 
above-described movements of the flank. On examining the 
ensemble of these phenomena, we find that the respiration is 
