DISEASES OF THE HEART 



HEART DISEASES IN GENERAL 



Diseases of the heart are not uncommon in hogs. 

 Inflammation of the lining membrane (endocarditis), 

 and the covering of the heart (pericarditis), and the 

 heart itself (myocarditis) are sometimes met with in 

 such diseases as pleurisy, rheumatism, hog cholera, 

 and swine plague. 



Symptoms. — These are usually overshadowed by 

 the original ailment. Palpitation of the heart may 

 occur. The pulse is usually small, quick, and ir- 

 regular, the body temperature much higher than 

 normal, and the hog depressed and restless because 

 of the severe pain and the serious character of the 

 disease. This line of ailments usually ends in death. 



Treatment. — The treatment of acute heart-dis- 

 eases is very unsatisfactory. About all that can be 

 done is to keep the animal quiet and reHeve the 

 pain. Ten to twenty drops of tincture of opium 

 can be given every few hours. To regulate the 

 heart-beats, twenty to thirty drops of tincture of 

 digitalis should be given at frequent intervals. 

 Blisters and blistering liniment may be applied 

 to the walls of the chest just over the region of the 

 heart. This latter treatment is usually followed by 

 good results, 



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