206 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



tion by digitaKs four times a day and follow the action oi 

 the purgative by diuretics (nitre, acetate of potassa, etc.) 

 Ointment or tincture of iodine may be applied to the waUa 

 of the chest. In cases of extreme danger from effusion 

 the liquid should be dra-wn off with cannula and trocar 

 or needle-Uke tube, as in hydrothorax, the puncture in the 

 horse or ox being made between the cartilages of the fifth 

 and sixth ribs. 



In case of rheumatic complication use alkalies, colchi- 

 cum, acetate of potassa and other agents advised for rheu- 

 matism. 



ENDOCARDITIS. 



Inflammation of the serous membrane lining the cham- 

 bers and covering the valves of the heart. 



Causes. Inflammation of the valves in connection with 

 imdue strain in severe exertions or obstructions to the flow 

 of blood, the rheumatic constitution or certain other un- 

 healthy states of the blood. 



Symptoms. The general symptoms resemble those of 

 pericarditis. There are besides, violent but unequal im- 

 pulse of the heart against the left, side, accompanied by a 

 metallic tinkling, a blowing murmur with the first, or even 

 the second sound, as soon as the contraction of the valves, 

 or the clots formed on them, render them insufficient to 

 close the orifices, and, if the disease exists on the right 

 side of the heart, venous pulse, general venous congestion 

 and dropsical swellings. The pulse, at first strong and 

 sharp, becomes weak with the imperfection of the valves, 

 in marked contrast vdth the continued strong impulse of 

 the heart. The patient may perish from obstruction to 

 the heart's action by clots on the valves, or from such 

 clots carried on with the circulation and blocking arteries 

 at a distance ; or diseases of other organs may supervene 

 from the latter cause, or a recovery may take place with 

 or without permanent alterations which render the valves 

 unable to close their respective orifices. 



