198 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



SYNCOPE. 



Syncope is fainting and when applied to the heart it means 

 a fainting fit. The heart fails and loses its irritability and will 

 not respond to the nerves. This causes the nerve centers to be 

 anaemic and a consequent lack of blood to the brain. It rarely 

 occurs among horses. The condition could be induced by a rapid 

 and great loss of blood or by intense pain or by mechanical 

 interference with the circulation of the brain. 



Uterine hemorrhage is a common cause of syncope in the 

 human. Rapid bleeding from the jugular produces it. You 

 should be able to differentiate between syncope and apoplexy. 

 Apoplexy is caused by hemorrhage into the brain while syncope 

 is caused by a lack of blood, or anaemia of the brain. In 

 apoplexy there is a purple appearance ; in syncope pallor. 



Semeiology. — There may be a partial or total loss of con- 

 sciousness ; the pulse sinks rapidly and the animal drops to the 

 ground.. The surface of the body turns cold, the breathing is 

 scarcely to be perceived, but the state lasts usually only a few 

 minutes. If the case is attended with much hemorrhage it may 

 be fatal. In paralysis of the heart the symptoms may be similar 

 to those of fainting. In apoplexy there is stertorous breathing. 



Treatment. — Dash cold water on the head. Lay the animal 

 flat with his head as low as possible in order that the blood may 

 flow into the brain with the least resistance. Do not let the 

 animal get up too soon or else the attack may return. As soon 

 as the consciousness returns give whisky or carbonate of am- 

 monia. Then afterwards general tonics, rest, and nourishing 

 foods are indicated. Remove the cause. 



ACUTE INFLAMMATORY DISEASES. 



This will embrace myocarditis, endocarditis and pericarditis. 

 Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the serous 

 sack surrounding the heart ; endocarditis is the inflammation of 

 the serous lining of the heart, the endocardium; myocarditis is 

 the inflammation of the muscle. 



Pericarditis runs about the same course as pleurisy (acute, 



