364 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE HEART. 



This will embrace myocarditis, endocarditis, and pericarditis. 



MYOCARDITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE MUSCULAR STRUCTURE OF 



THE HEART. 



The heart muscle sometimes becomes inflamed as a complica- 

 tion or result of the existence of general or febrile and of infectious 

 diseases. Severe influenza or infectious pneumonia is not infre- 

 quently followed by myocarditis. By extension of inflammation of 

 the endocardium or pericardium the muscle of the heart may become 

 involved. Over-exertion or especially hard work continued for a 

 long time may cause this muscle to become inflamed. 



Symptoms. Inflammation of the heart muscle is shown by in- 

 ability to contract forcibly ; this results in a rapid but weak, soft pulse 

 and irregular heart sounds. The pulse may be quite irregular as a 

 result of the irregular, tumultuous action of the heart. There is 

 great general weakness, shortness of breath, and rapid respiratory 

 movements. In some cases, where the muscle is very much softened 

 and weakened, or, perhaps when an abscess forms in the wall of the 

 heart, the course of the disease is very rapid and terminates suddenly 

 from paralysis or rupture of the heart. 



Treatment. In this disease the nutrition and strength of the 

 heart should be kept up as much as possible with good food, good 

 care, and heart tonics and stimulants. The horse should be tempted 

 to eat such foods as he will take; he should be kept in an airy box 

 stall; his legs should be w r ell rubbed as often as necessary to keep 

 them warm and bandaged loosely with flannel bandages. Internally, 

 the horse may have strychnia in 2-grain doses twice daily, whisky in 

 4-ounce doses every two to four hours, digitalis in the form of the 

 tincture in doses of 1 dram every three to six hours. Artificial Carls- 

 bad salts in heaping tablespoonful doses in the feed may be given 

 three times daily for a couple of weeks. Rest is of the greatest im- 

 portance and should be allowed for a few weeks after recovery seems 

 to be complete. 



ENDOCARDITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LINING MEMBRANE OF THE 

 HEART, USUALLY INVOLVING THE MUSCULAR STRUCTURE. 



Endocarditis frequently occurs as a complication of rheumatism, 

 some of the specific or zymotic fevers, specific poisoning, etc. This 

 is a more frequent disease among horses than is generally known, and 

 often gives rise to symptoms which, at first, are obscure and un- 

 noticed. 



Endocarditis may be acute, subacute, or chronic. In acute in- 

 flammation we find a thickening and a roughened appearance of the 

 endocardium throughout the cavities of the heart. This condition 

 may be followed by a coagulation of fibrin upon the inflamed sur- 

 face, which adheres to it, and by attrition soon becomes worked up 

 into shreddy-like granular elevations ; this may lead to a formation 

 of fibrinous clots in the heart and sudden death early in the disease, 

 the second or third day. 



Subacute endocarditis, which is the most common form, may 

 not become appreciable for several days after its commencement. It 



