Diseases of the Dog and Their Treatment (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ... DISEASES OP THE CIRCULATORY APPARATUS. EXAMINATION OF THE CIRCULATORY APPARATUS. Examination of the Heart. Anatomy Of The Heart. The normal position of the heart may be seen in Fig. 39. It lies on the left side, but not so far as is seen in other domestic animals. The direction of its axis is not vertical, but extends slightly in a posterior direction, with a slight curve toward the left side. The base of the heart extends from the third to the seventh rib; the apex extends backward toward the diaphragm. Superiorly the heart lies close to the large Fio. 39. The heart in position: a, right ventricle; 6, left ventricle; c, left auricle; d, right auricle /, pulmonary artery; g, aorta; k, oesophagus; I, diaphragm. vessels--the trachea and the oesophagus--and lies close on all sides to the lobes of the lungs. In its inferior portion it lies close to the chest-wall, extending from the third to the seventh rib. In the heart-sections we find the following arrangement: the right section lies in a right anterior direction from its axis and the left lies in a left posterior direction. The size of the heart varies greatly in different animals, even when in a normal condition, and it is, therefore, impossible to lay down any relative rule as to its size or dimensions. According to Colan, the weight of the heart compared with that of the body is 1 to 90; and according to Rabe, it varies from 1 to 4 to 100, and taking relatively all the breeds of dogs, and also sex and age, the relative size is 0.6 and 2.2 to 100. It is difficult to make an examination of the heart on account of its position, lying as it does hidden between the lobes of the lungs, and only a small portion of its surface exposed where it can be heard, and from the fact that it varies in size not only in t...