1 68 CLINICAL VETERINARY .MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



existence for some time, occasionally for several weeks ; and, provided 

 he makes a complete examination of the patient, and does not forget 

 the heart, a careful consideration of the signs furnished by palpation, 

 percussion, and auscultation should enable him to arrive at a correct 

 diagnosis. Ascites is often the most striking symptom, and puts one 

 on the right path. It is usually easy to differentiate between pericar- 

 ditis and pleurisy. In pleurisy with moderate exudation, resembling 

 that of pericarditis, the zon.e of dulness changes with the animal's 

 position. By standing the animal on its hind legs the heart-sounds 

 and vesicular murmur become readily perceptible, while the upper part 

 of the thorax is resonant ; in the normal standing position the reso- 

 nance disappears or becomes dulled. 



Pericarditis having been diagnosed, the question remains whether 



Fig. 17. — Chest bandage. 



or not it be of tuberculous character. The patient's bodily condition, 

 the clinical signs, and the history only form a basis for presumptions. 

 But in most cases the matter can be solved by an injection of tuber- 

 culin ; and even when this appears to fail, recourse may be had to 

 inoculation of a guinea-pig with a little pericardial serosity. 



As I said at the commencement, most of our patients are affected 

 with pericarditis complicated with ascites. Unless the pericardial 

 symptoms appear menacing, tapping may be deferred, and attempts 

 made to assist reabsorption of exudate by counter-irritants, diuretics 

 and purgatives. I am in the habit of rubbing the precordial region with 

 antimonial ointment, and to prevent the animal licking it, I apply a 

 bandage over the spot (Fig. 17). I prefer this to cold compresses or 

 sinapisms. In addition to milk diet, I prescribe internally calomel or 

 bicarbonate of soda and digitalis. 



