] 046 Pericarditis. 



a rise occurs in the later course of the disease ; it is not usually 

 liigh, unless the underlying disease causes a considerable degree 

 of fever. When the temperature rises within the body, chills 

 and tremliling are frequently observed and the temperature 

 is unequally distributed over the surface of the body. In cattle 

 traumatic pericarditis may in exceptional cases run an afebrile 

 course. 



With the development of the symptoms the general condi- 

 tion of the animals becomes constantly worse. Large animals 

 avoid every movement as much as possible, and stand with neck 

 stretched out straight, they lie down only rarely, very carefully 

 and only for short periods; their eyes have a plaintive expres- 

 sion ; smaller animals usually lie constantly on the ground. The 

 desire to eat diminishes more and more, so that the patients 

 become emaciated. Defecation is retarded, although in some 

 cases, especially in traumatic pericarditis, diarrhea occurs. 



Chronic pericarditis usually arises out of the acute form, 

 the condition of the animals improving after a certain time, but 

 without complete recovery. It is more rare for the disease to 

 develop insidiously from the commencement (mostly in the 

 presence of tumors, tuberculous swellings, etc.), and in such 

 cases the s^auptoms of the initial stage, like irregular heart 

 action, rapid fatigue during work, may remain unnoticed for 

 weeks. 



The most striking s^^uptoms are dyspnea and rapid 

 fatigue on moving about and still more when working, then a 

 decided increase and arhythmic character of the heart function. 

 Enlargement of the cardiac dullness is either absent or examina- 

 tion gives the same result as in acute pericarditis with etfusion. 

 In the latter case the heart beat and heart sounds are weak. 

 Friction sounds are usually absent. Another s^nnptom is found 

 in the fullness of the jugiilar veins. In the later stages of the 

 disease edema may develop on the lower chest and in the 

 vicinity. 



Course and Prognosis. Acute pericarditis usually ends 

 fatally, Avithin the first week, in those cases in which purulent or 

 ichorous exudate has collected in large quantities or in which 

 the affection has occurred in connection with an infectious dis- 

 ease, especially pneumonia, pleurisy or hemorrhagic septicemia. 

 In the majority of cases, however, the disease takes a longer 

 course, 2 to 3 weeks and more, and shows at times transitory 

 improvement. Ultimately, however, the permanent disturbance 

 of the heart function or the degeneration of the heart muscle 

 lead to death even in these cases, the end being preceded by 

 s>aiiptoms of stasis, such as venous hyperemia and edema, some- 

 times hemorrhagic infarcts in the lungs, chronic catarrh of the 

 respiratory passages and of the intestinal tract, cutaneous 

 edema, thoracic dropsy, ascites, etc. The animals become much 

 emaciated and exhausted and usually perish in this stage with 



