152 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



gested by the history, by the visible symptoms, and especially by the 

 attacks of dyspnoea which affect most patients during work. The 

 cardiac symptoms must be viewed as a whole, particular attention 

 being given to those detected on auscultation, and examination of the 

 pulse ; while other diseases capable of producing the functional dis- 

 turbances noted must be disposed of by a process of exclusion. 



The prognosis is very grave. If the disease is not immediately 

 threatening it always ends by disabling its subjects, and sooner or 

 later entails death. 



The only useful treatment consists in endeavouring to control 

 inflammation of the cardiac muscle by the administration of salts of 

 iodine, and in stimulating those cardiac fibres which have escaped 

 destruction. For this purpose heart stimulants and tonics like nux 

 vomica and its derivatives, or caffeine, may be given ; where, however, 

 symptoms of broken wind exist and the myocarditis is little pro- 

 nounced, arsenic and sometimes digitalis give better results. 



