DISEASES OF THE HEART AND BLOOD-VESSELS. 91 



chest will feel the beating of the heart, which is often irregular, some- 

 times violent, and in other instances weak. Legs are cold; the breath 

 ing quickened, and usually abdominal; if the left .side of the chest be 

 pressed on or struck, the animal evinces much pain; there also may be 

 a furrow or line extending along the line of the false ribs from below 

 and behind the elbow back to the flank. (It must be remembered that 

 most of these symptoms are also seen in connection with pleurisy, and 

 care must be taken to discriminate.) There may be spasms of the 

 muscles in the region of the breast, neck, or hind legs. After a time, 

 which varies in length, the legs may become swollen, and swelling may 

 also appear under the chest and brisket. 



In those animals in which the heart sounds may be heard somewhat 

 distinctly, the ear applied against the chest will detect a to and-fro 

 friction sound, corresponding to the beats of the heart; this sound is 

 produced by the rubbing of the internal surface of the heart-bag against 

 he external surface of the heart. During the first stages of the in- 

 flammation these surfaces are dry, and the rubbing of one against the 

 other during the contraction and relaxation of the heart produces the 

 to-and-fro friction sound. The dry stage is followed by the exudation 

 of fluid into the heart-sac, and the friction is not heard until the fluid 

 is absorbed sufficiently to allow the surfaces to come in contact again. 

 But during the time the friction sound is lost a sound which has been 

 called a "churning noise " may take its place. When the to-and-fro 

 friction sound does not return, adhesion of the surfaces may be sus- 

 pected. A murmuring sound, likened to that made by a bellows, some- 

 times takes the place of the friction sound, and signifies that endocar- 

 ditis is also present. 



The friction sound of pericarditis can not be mistaken for the friction 

 SOP. ml of pleurisy if the examination is a careful one, because, in the 

 he-art a flection, the sound is made in connection with the heart beats, 

 while in the pleuritic affection the sound is synchronous with each 

 respiration or breath of air taken in and expelled from the lungs. 



Treatment. When pericarditis is complicated with rheumatism or 

 other diseases, they must be treated as directed in the description of 

 them. The animal must be kept in a quiet, comfortable place, where it 

 will be free from excitement. Warm clothing should Iw applied to the 

 body and the legs hand-rubbed until the circulation in them is reestab- 

 lished, and then snugly bandaged. The food should be nutritive, and 

 in moderate quantity. Bleeding should not be performed unless the 

 case is in the hands of an expert. 



At the beginning give as n purgative Kpsom salts 1 jMUind to an 

 average-sized cow dissolved in about a quart of warm water, and 

 administered as a drench. When there is much pain - ounces of 

 laudanum may be given, diluted with ft pint of water, every three hours, 

 until relief is given. Do not give the laudanum unless demanded by 

 the severity of the pair., as it tends to constipation. During the acute 



