462 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



second stomach into the heart sac. This condition of things has not un- 

 commonly been observed in animals in good condition sent to the slaughter- 

 house without any suspicion arising that they were subjects of such severe 

 inj uries. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of pericarditis of the acute form are very 

 often complicated with those of ordinary intlammatiou of the lungs and 

 pleura (pleuro-pneumonia), and indeed, in fatal cases of the latter disease, 

 it is quite usual to find indications of inflamed pericardium. 



In such cases as the above there would, of course, be great difficulty in 

 separating the symptoms belonging to each set of organs, but it is generally 

 allowed that the character of the pulse, the irregularity of the heart's action, 

 and the presence of a venous pulse in the jugular vein may be taken as 

 indications that the heart sac is implicated in the inflammatory condition. 



In pericarditis resulting from injury it is certainly the case that the 

 disease may advance to a considerable extent before any symptoms of 

 illness are apparent; in some cases there may be no particular signs of 

 derangement until the foreign body, needle or skewer, reaches the heart. 

 It has been noticed at the termination of these cases, when the fact of the 

 existence of the disease has been made patent by a post-mortem examina- 

 tion, that the animals for some time before death have been subject to 

 frequent attacks of indigestion, associated with elimination of gas into the 

 rumen in the case of cattle, and into the single stomach of the horse. As 

 a result of the disease, a quantity of fluid, clear or turbid, is usually found 

 in its cavity, with adhesion of a portion of the membrane perhaps to the 

 heart, and sometimes considerable thickening of the structures. 



Pericarditis which is independent of the passage of any foreign body or 

 other injury is distinguished as idiopathic, a form which seldom occurs 

 unless in combination with pleuro-pneumonia, and, as previously stated, it 

 is scarcely likely that it would be distinguished at once as a distinct disease 

 in the presence of inflammation of the lungs and pleural membrane. In 

 the event, however, of any suspicion being excited which would lead to an 

 examination of the heart by the application of the ear to the left side, over 

 the cardiac region, it wcnild be discovered that the normal sounds of the 

 heart are less distinct, and if fibrinous exudation has taken place between 

 the two layers of the pericardium, friction sounds might be detected in the 

 early stages of the disease. 



Treatment of the idiopathic form of pericarditis may be attempted 

 with some hope of success. It would include the administration of a saline 

 aperient, and in some instances, when the symptoms are very marked, and 

 the heart is affected with palpitations, digitalis is recommended. Fomenta- 

 tions, or the hot pack, or counter irritation to the region of the heart, may 



