1052 Dropsy of the Pericardium. 



times also in otlier dojuestic animals. Abscesses (mostly traumatic in 

 origin) develop -with preference subpleurally or subpericardially, and 

 new- formations or the somewhat more frequent tuberculous swellings are 

 found at the base of the heart or in the anterior mediastinum. Only 

 rarely abdominal organs (especially the reticulum) compress the heart 

 by prolapsing into the thoracic cavity ; in other cases, which are also 

 very rare, a pulmonary abscess or a very large echinococcus of the lung 

 exerts pressure upon the near-by heart. If such formations are present, 

 the diastolic dilation of the heart is more or less interfered with and at 

 the same time the heart muscle is made to atrophy (Atrophia cordis). 

 The large vascular trunks are often compressed at the same time, or 

 they may be affected exclusively. 



The clinical picture shows great similarity with that of pericarditis ; 

 especially similar symptoms of stasis are to be noted. On the other 

 hand, the pulse rate is only slightly increased, intermissions are frequent 

 and a displacement of the heart to the right, forward, backward or 

 upward may be demonstrated by the character of the heart beat or of 

 the heart sounds; pericardial sounds are absent. In certain cases the 

 dullness is much larger than is usual in pericarditis. Sometimes an 

 exploratory puncture affords valuable indications for diagnosis. 



Treatment need be considered only in the case of subpleural or sub- 

 pej'icardial abscesses or of cystic new-formations, in order to remove the 

 fluid contents. 



Literature. Bretagiiier, Rec, 1909. 1.56. — Huynen, Ann., 1907. 144. — 

 .Toest, Dresd. B., 1906. — Lienaiix, Ann., 1905. 1, 121, 473. — Mathis & Ball, 

 J. vet., 1905. 653. — Moussu, Eec, 1903. 757. — Petit & Delacroix, Bull., 1905. 

 133. — Seegert, Z. f. Vk., 1901. 126. 



Dropsy of the Pericardium. Hydrops Pericardii. 



{Hydro pericardium.) 



Etiology. With the exception of inflammatory processes, 

 which do not belong here, an accumulation of serous fluid occurs 

 in the pericardium either from stasis of the blood in chronic 

 diseases of the heart muscle or of the valves, or in chronic 

 pulmonary affections, and also in connection with hydremia. 

 On a similar foundation dropsy of the pericardium develops 

 in chronic inflammations of the kidneys, in chronic glanders, 

 chronic anemia, in liver-fluke disease, lungworm disease, etc. 

 The diseases which have been enumerated usually exert their 

 effects also upon the veins of other parts of the body, and 

 therefore symptoms of hydrops are in these cases observed 

 elsewdiere also. 



Anatomical Changes. The pericardium of healthy animals 

 contains at most a few cubic centimeters of a serous fluid, but 

 in dropsy of the pericardium the quantity may amount to 100-200 

 times the normal. The liquid is clear or slightly turbid (because 

 of the admixture of desquamated and degenerated epithelial 

 cells), it is thin fluid, sometimes bloody; the specific gravity is 



