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plain symptoinsof cardiac affection are manifested in animals affected 

 with influenza, rheumatism, or any disease in wliicli the blood may 

 convey septic matter. 



Acute endocardial inflammation may be distinguished from i)leuritis 

 by the absence of any friction murmur, absence of pain when the chest 

 wall is percussed, and the absence of effusion in the cavitj^ of the chest. 

 It may be distinguished from pericarditis b}' the absence of the friction 

 sounds and vwant of an enlarged area of dullness on jpercussion. 



Treaimeni. — The treatment will be similar in both myocarditis and 

 endocarditis. The objects to be attained Avillbe to remove or mitigate 

 as much as possible the cause inducing the disease; to find a medicine 

 which will lessen the irritability of the heart without weakening it; 

 and last, to maintain a free urinary secretion and prevent exudation and 

 hypertrophy. So long as there is an increase of temperature, with some 

 degree of scautinessof the nrine, it may be safe to believe that there is 

 some degree of inflammatory action existing in the cardiac structures, 

 and, as long as any evidence of inflammatory action remains, however 

 moderate in degree, there is a tendency to increase or hypertrophy of 

 the connective tissue of the heart or valves, thereby rendering it 

 almost certain that the structural changes will become permanent 

 unless counteracted by persistent treatment and complete rest. 



The tincture of digitalis, in 20-drop doses, repeated every hour, is 

 perhaps the most reliable agent we know to control the irritability of 

 the heart, and this also has a decided influence upon the urinary secre- 

 tion. After the desired impression ui)on the heart is obtained the 

 dose may be repeated every two or three hours, or as the case may 

 demand. Fluid extract of convaJlaria majalis, in 2-dram doses, will 

 quiet the tumultuous action of the heart in some cases where the 

 digitalis fails. Some veterinarians recommend bleeding, others cold 

 packs around the chest or over the lieart. The former is decidedly 

 objectionable, because of its tendency to favor fibrinous exudation and 

 clot formation; the latter is too risky a proceeding in the majority of 

 cases to warrant its use, for we find this disease in wet and damp sta- 

 bles in the most aggravated and fatal forms. Blistering and stimulat- 

 ing applications to the chest should also be avoided. They serve to 

 irritate tlie animal and can do no possible good. Chlorate of ]3otassa, 

 in 2-dram doses, may be given in the drinking water everj^ four hours 

 for the first five or six days, and then l)e superseded by the nitrate of 

 potassa, in lialf-ounee doses, for the following week, or until the uri- 

 nary secretion becomes abnormally profuse. Where the disease is 

 associated with rheumatism 2-dram doses of salicylate of soda may be 

 substituted for the chlorate of potassa. To guard against chronic 

 induration of the valves the iodide of potassa, in 1 to 2 dram doses, 

 should be given early in the disease, and may be repeated two or three 

 times a day for several weeks. When chronic effects remain after the 

 acute stage has passed this drug becomes indisi)ensable. 



