DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 229 



coldness of the extremities, giddiness or fainting- attacks, irmbility to 

 stand work, although the general appearance would indicate strength 

 and ability, etc. 



INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THp HEART. 



This will embrace m3"ocarditis, endocarditis, and pericarditis. 



MYOCARDITIS, OR INFLAMMATIOX OF THE MUSCULAR STRUCTURE OF THE HEART. 



The heart muscle sometimes becomes inflamed as a complication or 

 result of the existence of general or febrile and of infectious diseases. 

 Severe influenza or infectious pneumonia is not infrequently followed 

 by myocarditis. By extension of inflammation for 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 inability 

 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 gen- 

 eral 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. 



Alterations. — The heart muscle has a brownish or yellowish, boiled 

 appearance, and is so brittle that it tears easil3^ There may be a 

 spotted appearance of the muscle from the intense changes in struc- 

 ture in small areas; these small areas may be due to suppuration, in 

 which case they have the characteristics of small abscesses. This last 

 condition is seen in pyemia (blood poisoning). If the disease is of long 

 duration, the fibrous tissue in the wall of the heart may increase to 

 such an extent as to produce an unnatural hardness of the wall. 



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 well rubbed as often as necessaiy to keep them warm and 

 bandaged loosely with flannel bandages. Internally, the horse may 

 have strychnia in 2-grain doses twice daily, whisk}^ in 4-ounce doses 

 every two to four hours, digitalis in the form of the tincture m doses 

 of 1 dram eveiy three to six hours. Artificial Carlsbad salts in heap- 

 ing tab'espoonful doses in the feed may be given three times daily for 

 a couple of weeks. Rest is of the greatest importance and fihould be 

 allowed for a few weeks after recovery seems to be complete. 



