PERICARDITIS IN THE DOG. 163 



weakness, three points immediately attracted attention — the rapid 

 breathing, size of the abdomen, and presence of a swelHng under the 

 chest. The abdomen was largest about its lower part, which was dull 

 when percussed and showed fluctuation, pointing to the presence of 

 ascitic exudate. The respiration was rapid, short and sighing, numbered 

 thirty-five to forty per minute, and movement and exertion of any kind 

 like walking caused oppression. On auscultating the chest the vesi- 

 cular murmur was only heard distinctly in the upper half of either lung. 

 The heart-beats were difficult to feel, and the normal heart-sounds 

 were obscure, distant, and smothered. The pulse at the femoral artery 

 was very feeble, and about 130 per minute. The jugulars showed 

 very clearly marked venous pulse. The temperature was 39*2^ C. 

 <i02-5° F.). 



On the same day we tapped the abdomen, and withdrew about two 

 quarts of a slightly red serous liquid. During the evening and the 

 next day the animal was spoon-fed with milk, and 15 eg. (2"25 grains) 

 of calomel were given. Tuberculin produced no reaction. 



On the following day, although fever was slight (the temperature 

 not exceeding 38'9^ C. = 102° F.), the condition had become more 

 alarming. The abdomen, reduced after tapping, had again increased, 

 and the swelling under the chest was somewhat larger. The impulse 

 and beating of the heart were imperceptible ; the arterial pulse was still 

 feebler than on the previous day, but the venous pulse more marked. 

 The respirations were forty-five per minute ; the depression appeared 

 greater, and death imminent. After morning hospital inspection I 

 punctured the pericardium with an aspirator and fine needle opposite 

 the fifth intra-costal space, about two and a quarter inches above the 

 line of the sternum, withdrawing nearly six and a half ounces of slightly 

 red-stained liquid similar to that obtained from the abdomen on the 

 previous day. 



Immediate improvement followed. The patient's face lost its 

 anxious expression, the dyspnoea diminished, and the respiration 

 became easier. During the evening and night the animal several 

 times took milk. 



Next day the improvement continued. The morning temperature 

 was 38"6° (ioi'4° F.), the respiration 27, and the pulse 112. The 

 heart-beats could be felt, both normal sounds were heard, and the 

 venous pulse disappeared. I prescribed infrictions of antimonial oint- 

 ment over the precordial region. Milk feeding was continued. 



Within a few days disturbance rapidly diminished. At the end of 

 a week the appetite and general spirits returned. Fed on meat, rice, 

 and milk, the convalescent rapidly regained strength and condition. 



