at others assuming a milder form. The action
of the heart is more or less disturbed. The beats are irregular, at
times being strong, while again they are feeble. A feeling of numbness
is experienced in those parts to which the pain penetrates. These
paroxysms _usually_ continue but a few minutes, although they sometimes
last several hours. Persons suffering from angina pectoris are liable to
sudden death. It is connected with ossification, or other organic
changes of the heart. Usually these paroxysms, if the life of the
patient continues, become more and more frequent. The danger is not to
be measured by the intensity of the pain, but by the co-existing organic
disease. Although it is not absolutely certain that organic disease is
present in all cases of angina pectoris, yet the exceptions are so rare
that when the signs of organic disease cannot be detected, it may be
inferred that angina is not the real affection, or that the existing
lesions escape observation. Those who suffer from this disease are, in
the great majority of cases, of the male sex, and rarely under the age
of forty.

TREATMENT. In the foregoing consideration of organic diseases of the
heart, we have omitted to speak of their remedial management, for the
obvious reason that unprofessional readers are unable to correctly
distinguish between the various diseases of this vital organ; and it
would, therefore, be useless for us to attempt to instruct them as to
the medicinal treatment of the different cardiac affections.

In the vast majority of instances, diseases of the heart are not
necessarily speedily fatal. Persons have been known to live twenty years
or more with very extensive organic disease of this organ.

It is _very important_, however, that a correct diagnosis be made in the
early stages of these diseases, in order that an appropriate course of
hygiene and treatment may be adopted, which will check their progress.
While we cannot cure extensive organic diseases of the heart, we _can_
check their progress, and prolong life, and render the condition of the
subject comparatively comfortable. Since we are able to diagnosticate
with the utmost precision the various affections of the heart, and since
the discovery of certain specific medicines which exert most beneficial
effects, we are enabled to treat this class of maladies with the most
gratifying results. Thus we have seen a case in a very advanced stage of
the disease, with the breathing so