In _hypertrophy of the left ventricle_, the pulse is full and strong and the impulse appears prolonged, because of the greater length of time taken up by the ventricle in the act of contraction. When _dilatation_ coexists with _hypertrophy_ the impulse is still full and strong, more blood being transmitted through the vessel; but when _dilatation_ is combined with _attenuation_ of the ventricular walls the impulse is soft and weak by reason of the feebleness of the contractions. The pulse at the radial artery should be about synchronous with the beat of the heart. If retarded it may be held to indicate the existence on the anterior aorta or its primary divisions of an aneurism with elastic walls or more probably an imperfection of the aortic valves, which allows a regurgitation of the blood into the heart. =Venous pulse.= A venous pulse seen in the lower end of the jugular veins is common in the domestic animals. In the ox it is quite compatible with health and is only to be judged by its amplitude and force. In other animals it often coexists with congestion of the lungs which impedes the circulation through the right side of the heart and leads to engorgement of the venous system. In the absence of this condition it frequently indicates an imperfection of the auriculo-ventricular valves in the right heart and a reflux of blood from the contracting ventricle which checks the descending current in the veins. =Percussion.= In the =horse= a dull, dead sound is emitted when percussion is made over the left side for about four inches above the breast bone and in the space corresponding to the lower ends and the cartilages of prolongation of the fourth, fifth and sixth ribs. In the ox this dulness is less marked on the level of the sixth rib. The same results can be obtained on the right side by imparting heavier blows to the chest walls so as to derive the sound from the deeper parts. The area of dulness is _increased_ in cases of _hypertrophy_ or in _dilatation_ of the heart when the enlarged organ presses aside the lung tissue and exposes a greater amount of its substance to the chest walls. The same result takes place in hydropericardium. The area of dullness is _diminished_ in cases of ruptured air cells (as in “heaves”) when the inflated and expanded lung tissue envelopes the heart more completely and gives out its own clear resonance where the dull sound of the heart is usually obtained.