HYPERTROPHY AND DILATATION OE THE HEART. 691 
cold; and was shivering. I fancied it was an ordinary case 
of what is here termed by unscientific persons “distemper 
viz., common catarrh, and therefore provided myself with 
suitable medicine—the distance from my infirmary being 
about four miles. Upon examination of the animal I was of 
opinion that he was sufferingfrom a slight attack of pneumonia; 
all the symptoms indicating that such was the case. The 
owner desired his servant to take the horse quietly into 
Waterford, and leave him with me, as he had no desire to 
become a nurse; and from the general character of the 
symptoms, I did not think there was much risk of injury being 
done by his removal. Nearly three hours were occupied in 
his walk to the infirmary. After his arrival I carefully 
examined him, and found the heart to be at fault. The walk 
to town had brought out that which before was latent and 
hidden. The pulse was (as I have generally noticed in these 
complaints) of that peculiar character w 7 hich is so difficult to 
describe in words. It wmuld, so to speak, seem as though 
treacle, or some such dense liquid, was substituted for the 
sanguineous fluid. I do not know in wffiat better language 
to describe the effort of the vessels to circulate the fluid than 
this. The contractions of the heart never numbered, after 
the arrival of the horse at my stable, more than from forty to 
forty-eight beats in a minute. As is my usual practice in such 
cases, I administered a diffusible stimulant, conjoined with a 
solution of aloes. This had the effect of causing the pulse 
to rise a little, as I suppose from its action either on the 
nervous system or the blood, and to restore to it more of its 
natural character. 
From day to day the horse w r ould cough violently, heave 
desperately at the flank, and at intervals have a shivering fit, 
analogous to ague in the human subject. These symptoms 
w 7 ere always relieved by the use of 
Spfc. Am. C., et Spt. iEth. Nit. 
As his appetite continued unimpaired, I restricted his food, 
and gave plenty of fluids, which had also a salutary effect. 
This state of things continued for some days. The paroxysms 
attacked him about every other day, and when they came on 
he would sweat profusely—cold clammy sweats. He wrould 
also very frequently look back at his quarters, and appear full 
of anxiety ; indeed, the appearance of the countenance indicated 
an anxiety akin to that which we see in persons after hearing 
of the death of some beloved friend or relative. The ex¬ 
tremities were often cold, but very variable, never two hours 
of the same temperature. In short the whole of the frame 
