390 



fERICARDlTlR. 



In one solitary case Moussu saw another form of chronic pericarditis 

 with complete adhesion of the heart and pericardial sac, without any 

 exudation and almost without any false membranes. He was unable to 

 determine the exact cause, but was strongly inclined to regard the disease 

 as having followed pericarditis a frigore or pericarditis of a rheumatic 

 character. 



Adhesions l)etween the heart and pericardial sac are also said to be 

 the inevitable though delayed result of all punctures of tlie peri- 

 cardium through the ensiform carti- 

 lage in cases of pericarditis due to 

 a foreign body. 



Symptoms. If the chronic peri- 

 carditis is limited to a few partial 

 adhesions, it remains unnoticed 5 

 but when it is more marked it offers 

 certain signs of acute pericarditis, 

 such as partial dulness of the car- 

 diac area, which is more extensive 

 than usual, disappearance of the 

 cardiac shock, weakening of the 

 sounds, feebleness of the pulse, 

 very marked venous pulse, moderate 

 stasis, extremely rapid and aggra- 

 vated dyspnoea when the animal is 

 forced to walk, threatened asphyxia 

 if exercise is prolonged, and com- 

 plete asystole. 



All these symptoms are due to 

 the existence of adhesions between 

 the heart and pericardium, which, 

 by destroying the interpericardial 

 space, interfere with diastole while 

 preventing regular systole. 

 Sudden death is a frequent consequence. 



The diagnosis of chronic pericarditis is very difficult. The prognosis 

 is extremely grave, and we do not possess any means of dealing with the 

 condition. 



PSEUDO-PERICARDITIS. 



Under this title we purpose grouping a certain number of pathological 

 accidents due to different causes, but manifesting themselves by identical 

 symptoms, which symptoms offer so marked a resemblance to those of 

 pericarditis produced by foreign bodies as to suggest the presence of that 



Fig. 181. — Schema of a subpleural 

 abscess on the right side which pro- 

 duced symptoms of pericarditis (pseudo- 

 pericarditis) . Po, Right lung, partly 

 splenised and thrust upwards ; VI, 

 parietal pleura separated from the wall 

 of the lower half of the chest ; A, cavity 

 of the subpleural abscess. 



