examination was made two hours after death. The cavity of the pericardium contained a red clot of blood, which enveloped the whole of the heart; it was thicker in the parts that corresponded with the valve of the heart; and on the left ventricle, and near the base of the left valve of the heart, and on the external part of that viscus, was an irregular rent two inches long. It crossed the wall of the valve of the heart, which was very thin in this place. The size of the heart was very small, considering the height and bulk of the dog. The walls of the ventricles, and particularly of the left ventricle, were very thick. The cavity of the left ventricle was very small; there was evidently a concentric hypertrophy of these ventricles; the left valve of the heart was of great size.
The immediate cause of the rupture of the valve of the heart had evidently been an increase of circulation, brought on by an increase of exercise; but the remote cause consisted in the remarkable thinness of the walls of the valve of the heart. This case is remarkable in more than one respect; first, because examples of rupture of the valve of the heart are very rare; and, secondly, because this rupture had its seat in the left valve of the heart, while, usually, in both the human being and the quadruped, it takes place in the right; and this, without doubt, because the walls and the valves of the right side are thinner.
Diseases of the investing membrane of the lungs, and the pleura of the thoracic cavity, and of the substance of the lungs, are more frequent than those of the heart.
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Pleurisy
or inflammation of the membrane of the chest and the lungs of the dog, is not unfrequent. There are few instances of inflammation of the lungs, or pneumonia, that do not ultimately become connected with or terminate in pleurisy. The tenderness of the sides, the curious twitching that is observed, the obstinate sitting up, and the presence of a short, suppressed, painful cough, which the dog bears with strange impatience, are the symptoms that principally distinguish it from pneumonia. The exploration of the chest by
gives a true picture of it in pleurisy; and, by placing the dog alternately on his chest, his back, or his side, we can readily ascertain the extent to which effusion exists in the thoracic cavity; and, if we think proper, we can get rid of the fluid. It is not a dangerous thing to attempt, although it is very problematical whether much advantage would accrue from the operation. With a favourite dog it may, however, be tried; and, to prevent all accidents, a veterinary surgeon should be entrusted with the case.