The heart is the engine of the human body and its attachments are pipes with valves quite similar to those of ordinary pumps. The valves prevent the return of the blood as it is forced forward. The principal heart troubles are:

(1) Obstruction or displacement of the heart.

(2) Enlargement of the heart and changes in its structure.

(3) Leakage of the valves of the heart.

(4) Failure from over-stimulation, exertion, or from lack of healthy blocd.

(5) Disease from excessive use of tobacco or alcohol. The blood vessels cause disease and death from:

(1) Rupture.

(2) Obstruction to flow of blood.

(3) Increased resistance within the vessels. Probably the most common of all heart ailments result from displacement of the heart due to excessive flatulence of the stomach. If the stomach becomes inflated like a balloon, it pushes the diaphragm upward against the heart. This causes .the greatest anxiety and distress until relieved, and is supposed to cause many deaths, where the patient was ordinarily well and ate an extra hearty supper, but was found dead in the morning. Displacement or obstruction from tumors or water surrounding the heart, must also have a very serious effect.

All these produce sensations of fainting, difficult breathing, and a feeling as though death was imminent.

Enlargement and changes in structure cover a large field in heart troubles. It includes general enlargement, thickening of the walls, increase or decrease in size of cavities, aneurisms, changes due to cancerous growths and inflammations of the heart and connecting membranes.

Anything that interferes with the circulation of the blood may cause heart enlargement. If the heart be stimulated to twice its usual work, or the blood vessels obstructed so that more force is required to make the blood flow through them, the heart will increase in size.

Enlarged hearts are found in those who drink quantities of alcoholic liquors, over-exert themselves (as bicycle riders), and those who have contracted blood vessels due to poisonous matter in the blood.

Strong pulse, easily flushed face, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, disturbance of digestion.