EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
563 
pericardium was found to be enormously distended by several 
quarts of coagulated blood, which had come from the primitive 
aorta, in which a laceration appeared about two inches long, near 
the origin of the left coronary. The walls of the artery seemed 
to be thinner than in the remainder of its course, where it ap¬ 
peared normal. 
Second Case. —A mare drawing a light vehicle was sub¬ 
jected to about the same kind of effort, and, in returning, under - 
went a similar experience of symptoms, and dropped dead. 
The pericardium presented the same condition as in the other 
case, and was filled with coagulated blood. The aorta was also 
ruptured, the lesion having taken place at the origin of the ves¬ 
sel, near the right coronary. The rupture was horizontal, and 
measured a little less thau two inches. The edges of the wound 
on the inside were regularly torn, and smooth, while on the out¬ 
side they were ragged and projecting. The walls of the aorta 
seemed otherwise healthy.— Ibid. 
A CASE OF PALPITATION OF THE AORTA. 
By the Same.* 
An old mare, sick for thirty hours, presented the following 
symptoms: Dull expression, eyes closed, extremities cold and 
violent jerks and beatings back of the left flank, so strong that 
when they occurred the whole body was shaken. They were 
observable at a distance, and increased with every movement of 
the animal. On auscultation the seat of the motion was observa¬ 
ble on a level with the false ribs, a little below the vertebral 
column. By placing the hand over the cardial region, the beat¬ 
ing of the heart could be felt in its normal strength, and the 
jerks or convulsive contractions were found to be synchronous 
with the pulsations of the glosso facial. The animal refused all 
food, both solid and liquid. The temperature and pulse were 
normal, but respiration was somewhat accelerated. Defecation 
was also normal. The treatment included an electuary of digi- 
* This is a case of diaphragmatic chorea—spasms of the diaphragm or 
stumps. 
