560 DISEASES OF THE PERICARDIUM. 



altcrniitod with the exhibition of certain salts of iron, or with 

 iodide of potassium. 



In some instances in imcomphcated pericarditis, where I 

 have felt satistied that effusion existed, the system of support- 

 ing the animal with a nutritious dietary and the exhibition of 

 mild stimulants and tonics, combined Avith diuretics, has 

 seemed to be productive of much good, the intermittency 

 and irregularity of the pulse and cardiac action steadily 

 subsiding as the poAvers of the system Avere more firmly 

 established. 



When pericarditis appears to be ushered into existence in 

 connection Avith or as a symptom of rheumatoid inflammation, 

 or the epizootic fever of influenza, it is ahvays a Aviser pro- 

 cedure to direct attention more to the general or constitutional 

 disease upon Avhich the pericardial lesions seem to depend 

 than to the pericarditis itself 



Appearing as an accompaniment of acute rheumatism, or 

 Avhere I have obserA'ed it in the same relation to meningeal and 

 certain nervous diseases, the means Avhich have proved most 

 conducive to favourable results have been the early and con- 

 tinued exhibition of full doses of bicarbonate of potash, Avith, 

 Avhere the pain and cardiac irritability Avere considerable, the 

 addition of full doses of tincture of opium or aconite, together 

 Avith the local application of heat and moisture through the 

 medium of heavy Avoollen cloths. In all these cases it is 

 generally advisable, in addition to the use of bicarbonate of 

 potash, to alloAv full quantities of either sulphate of soda or 

 magnesia, the tendency of these, after a fcAv days' employment 

 in the drinking- Avater, being to maintain the boAvels in a soluble 

 condition. 



The appearance of pericarditis during the deA'elopment of 

 influenza Avill rarely call for a great alteration in our treatment 

 of that disease. The probabilities are that the animal Avill 

 require a more steadily continued stimulant course of treat- 

 ment than Avould otherAvisc be needful ; Avhile, if the chest has 

 not already been moderately blistered, benefit Avill result from 

 the use of a good mustard-meal poultice or a moderately active 

 cantharides liniment. Where the condition of hydro- pericar- 

 dium remains persistent, not seeming disposed to yield to si^ch 

 remedies as Ave have adopted, there is no reason Avhy an attempt 



