162 DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Diseases of the Heart and Blood Vessels. 



PERICARDITIS, INFI,AMMATION OF THE PERICARDIUM, DROPSY 

 OF THE HEART SAC — ENDOCARDITIS, INFI^AMMATION OF 

 THE INTERNAI, MEMBRANE OP THE HEART — HYPER- 

 TROPHY OF THE HEART — RUPTURE OF THE HEART ANC 

 I,ARGE BI,OOD VESSEI,S. 



PERICARDITIS, INFLAMMATION OF THE PERICAR- 

 DIUM, DROPSY OF THE HEART SAC. 



^^fc^HIS disease is quite common with poultry, and 

 / \ is often found associated with inflammation 

 ^^Iv of the lining: membrane of the heart, with en- 

 largement of the heart, with inflammation of 

 the lungs and air sacs, and with soreness of the joints. 

 Cadeac and Megnin are of the opinion on account of 

 the coexistence of these different troubles that the peri - 

 carditis of birds is often of a rheumatic nature. 



Symptoms. — There is great weakness, difficult 

 ■breathing, the head being thrown backwards, and the 

 breath drawn through the mouth in order to obtain 

 sufficient air. If forced to run the bird soon falls. 

 In a case observed by Hill there was tumultuous ac- 

 tion of the heart and occasional spasms. 



Examination after death shows the pericardium or 

 heart sac distended with a considerable quantity of 

 liquid which has been thrown out as a consequence 

 of the inflammation. There are, also, in many cases 



