OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 203 



viride. The potassium iodide and general tonics are of tempo- 

 rary benefit and stimulants should be given when the animal is 

 weak. Very few animals recover and remain useful for any 

 length of time when the valves of the heart have once been in- 

 volved in organic disease. 



MYOCARDITIS. 



Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle. This 

 disease sometimes accompanies py<Tmia and septiccemia. It can 

 be traced to foreign bodies, especially in cattle. Foreign bodies 

 may be swallowed and passed through the walls of the stomach 

 into the muscle of the heart and there set up an inflammation. 

 Strangles may cause this inflammation in the horse. It usually 

 terminates fatally and at autopsy we find abscesses in different 

 parts of the body. 



The myositis is shown by the inability of the heart muscle to 

 contract forcibly and it results in a weak, rapid, soft pulse with 

 irregular heart sounds. The course of the disease is very rapid 

 and terminates suddenly from paralysis or rupture of the heart. 



The heart muscle at post has a yellowish, boiled appearance 

 and is so friable that it tears easily. Small abscesses may be 

 scattered through it. If the disease is of long duration and be- 

 comes chronic, the fibrous tissue may increase to great extent, 

 extending through the muscle in every direction and largely re- 

 placing it. This makes the wall of the heart very hard. 



Treatment. — Quiet is of the greatest importance. The animal 

 should be kept in an airy stall, his legs should be well rubbed 

 and bandaged with flannel. Aid the heart by the use of tonics 

 and stimulants. Strychnine in one grain doses twice daily, 

 whisky in 4-ounce doses every two to four hours and digitalis 

 in 1-dram doses every three to six hours are indicated remedies. 



HYPERTROPHY AND ATROPHY. 



Hypertrophy of the heart means enlargement and it occurs 

 with or without dilatation of the cavities. This unnatural con- 

 ,dition may be general or local, over one ventricle or both or in- 



