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endocarditis. The objects to be attained will be 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 itj 

 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 scantiness of the urine, 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 hyper- 

 trophy of the connective tissue of the heart or valves, thereby render- 

 iufT 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 uri- 

 nary secretion. After the desired impression upon the heart is ob- 

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

 case may demand. Fluid extract of convallaria 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 heart. 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 the animal and can do no possible good. Chlorate of potassa, 

 in 2 dram doses, may be given in the drinking water every four hours 

 for the first five or six days, and then be superceded by the nitrate of 

 potassa, in half-ounce doses, for the following week, or until the urinary 

 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 one 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 eftects remain after the acute stage has 

 passed this drug becomes indispensable. 



When dropsy of the limbs develops, it is due to weakened circulation 

 or functional impairment of the kidneys. When there is much weak- 

 ness in the action of the heart, or general debility is marked, the iodide 

 of iron, in 1 dram doses, combined with hydrastis, 3 drams, may be 

 given three times a day. Arsenic, in 5-grain doses twice a day, will give 

 excellent results in some cases of weak heart associated with difiicult 

 breathing. In all cases absolute rest and warm stabling, with comfort- 

 able clothing, becomes necessary, and freedom from work should be 

 allowed for a long time after all symptoms have disappeared. 



