124 DADD'S VEL ERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGEKY 
otler diseases of the serous membranes; yet, fortunately for the 
patient as well as the practitioner, it does not require any special) 
treatment other than that laid down for pleurisy and disease of 
other serous membranes. 
Causes.—The causes of pericarditis are the same as those which 
are said to be operative in the production of pleurisy and disease 
in the serous membrane, viz.: sudden impressions of cold upon 
the external surface of the body; injuries; overtasking the pow- 
ers of the animal by laborious and rapid work. Sometimes 
foreign bodies, such as pins and needles, have been found within 
the pericardium, which must have been taken into the stomach 
with the food, and have worked their way so as to penetrate the 
pericardium and heart. Such cases almost always prove fatal. 
Symptoms.—The general symptoms of the disease are anxiety, 
shivering, coldness of the skin and mouth, loss of appetite; the 
jugular veins are congested, and they pulsate like an artery ; there 
is a sort of tinkling or metallic sound, when the ear is applied to 
the chest and lower part of the neck. In the latter stages the 
respiratory murmur becomes very indistinct, and there is a sort 
of double expiration, and the ribs become contorted, the same ar 
in dropsy of the chest. 
Treatment.—The heat of the external surface of the body must 
be restored, and kept uniform by means of leggings and body 
clothing. Both sides of the chest are to be briskly rubbed, two or 
three times daily, with hot vinegar and strong mustard. One 
drachm of iodide of potass, dissolved in five ounces of warm water, 
should be given every four hours; but, should the case be seen, 
and the true nature of the malady discovered in its early stages, 
omit the iodide of potass, and substitute two fluid drachms of tinc- 
ture of gelseminum. Two or three doses, at intervals of four hours, 
will suffice; then resort to the iodide of patass, or substitute for 
the same four drachms of chlorate of potass. So soon as the animal 
appears to improve, discontinue the above-named medicine, and 
give tonics. Four drachms of fluid extract of golden seal, twice 
daily, wi suffice. 
A fatal case of pure pericarditis is related by Mr. Woonasr, 
V.8., in the London “ Veterinarian.” The autopsy revealed a 
healthy state of the lungs and pleura; yet the pericardium con- 
tained about three quarts of serum, highly colored. The walls of 
the pericardium were considerably thickened, and studded with 
