PART II. 

 DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY ORGANS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 DISEASES OF THE HEART SAC. 



PERICARDITIS. 



Definition. — An inflammation of the heart sac. 



Occurrence. — ^In animals pericarditis is usually secondary 

 and associated with pleuritis. It, therefore, often accom- 

 panies pleuropneumonia. In the horse it may complicate 

 infectious pleuropneumonia and in the ox and swine the 

 pleuropneiunonia of hemorrhagic septicemia. It may also 

 be a symptom of influenza, strangles, glanders, or tubercu- 

 losis. In fact any extensive inflammation of the pleura may 

 involve by continuity and contiguity of tissue the pericar- 

 dium. From a clinical standpoint the symptoms of peri- 

 carditis are so often masked by those of the primary disease 

 that it is overlooked. 



In the ox pericarditis usually results from direct injury 

 by foreign bodies which pass from the reticulum or rumen 

 (traumatic pericarditis); or it may be due to tuberculosis. 



Forms. — ^From a pathological standpoint pericarditis may 

 be classified, like pleuritis, into fibrinous, serofibrinous, puru- 

 lent, ichoric or hemorrhagic. This classification is of limited 

 value clinically. 



Etiology. — Infection. — ^Most of the pathogenic micro- 

 organisms affecting animals can produce pericarditis. In 

 practice therefore it occurs concomitant with many infectious 

 diseases. 



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