movement, and a feeling as if the heart were in the throat. These
symptoms often give rise to great apprehension, anxiety, fear, and
depression of mind.

TREATMENT. The curative treatment of functional derangement of the heart
must have reference to the causes producing it. If it is in consequence
of indigestion, the appetite and digestion should be improved by
observing regularity in the time of taking the meals, and eating very
easily-digested food. The use of strong tea, coffee, tobacco, and
spirits, should be interdicted, and regular exercise, rest, and sleep
should be enjoined.

In all cases, the domestic management should include daily bathing,
exercise in the open air, regular habits, and the avoidance of all
causes which tend to excite the heart's irregularity.

_The remedial treatment_ of these functional affections ought to be
confided to some experienced physician, as the remedies are not within
the ordinary reach of all families, nor if they were, would they have
sufficient experience and knowledge to select and properly administer
them.

ORGANIC DISEASE OF THE HEART.

By organic disease we mean disease pertaining to the structure of the
heart itself, in contradistinction to _functional_ disease, which has
reference merely to the _action_ of the heart. The heart is subject to
various organic diseases, but we have only space to consider, in the
briefest manner, those which are the most common. It is essential that
the reader should have some knowledge of the anatomy and functions of
the various parts of the heart in order that its diseases and their
effects may be comprehended; therefore the anatomy and physiology of
this organ, given in Part I, Chapter VII, of this work, should be
carefully studied.

It is very evident that any disease which affects the structure and
function of any part of the heart must, necessarily, give rise to
certain modifications of the pulse, sounds, etc. It is through the
observation and study of these modifications and changes that we arrive
at a correct diagnosis as to the precise location and character of the
disease.

[Illustration: Fig. 1.
Pond's Sphygmograph.]

Until within comparatively recent years, physicians were very much in
the dark regarding diseases of the heart. Now, however, with a thorough
knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the heart and the
parts surrounding it, and with the aid of instruments which modern
ingenuity has given us