216 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



which the needle seems to have passed back from the 

 pericardium and re-entered the rumen, in the walls of which 

 it became fixed. 



Prognosis unfavorable. The animal lives under the 

 acute attack several days. 



The idiopathic form of Pericarditis depends upon ex- 

 posure, change from a hot to a cold atmosphere, and other 

 influences of a like nature which determine visceral in- 

 flammation. Mr. Litt describes a case due to a wound 

 through the thoracic walls.^ This disease assumes an 

 acute character, and is very painful. Its symptoms in 

 the main resemble those of the traumatic form, but differ 

 in the less marked audibility of the diagnostic sounds, and 

 in the absence of signs of indigestion and the gaseous 

 eructations. But, as we have seen, these differences are 

 not always reliable (' Yeterinary Eecord,^ vol. i, p. 119). In 

 one case the patient had every appearance of a horse suf- 

 fering from laminitis ; also the pulse was full and bounding, 

 100, with irregular intervals of vibrating jerks ; the hearths 

 action conveyed a singular tinkling noise. In early stages 

 of this disorder the pericardium is congested, and later 

 it is rendered opaque and then obscured by false mem- 

 branes. It may become gangrenous, serous effusion 

 and lymph exudation into the serous sac may take place, 

 as in the traumatic form. A heart covered by floccu- 

 lent false membranes is a very pretty specimen. Some- 

 times a heart which has been affected with this disorder 

 is found here and there covered with opaque spots of 

 thickened pericardium. This has been attributed to 

 rheumatism. 



Treatment. — Comprises careful nursing, stimulant 

 applications to the sides of the chest, aconite to con- 

 trol the. action of the heart and to lessen the amount of 

 fever present. Digitalis, too, proves very useful through 

 its sedative influence and its tendency to promote absorp- 

 tion. In the advanced stages of the disease stimulants 

 are required, and tonic agents promote resolution. The 

 iodide of iron seems to be especially indicated if all febrile 

 * See ' Veterinary Record,' 1845. 



