72 DISEASES OF THE HEART SAC 



Symptoms. — The serofibrinous form is most common in the 

 horse. The patient presents symptoms hke those in the first 

 stage of pleurisy. It moves about very little, seems stiff and 

 may show lameness in a forelimb. When effusion occurs the 

 distention of the pericardium interferes with the heart action. 

 The respirations become dyspneic and the pulse small, irregu- 

 lar and weak. The temperature is usually not high unless 

 the primary disease is associated with high fever. The jugu- 

 lar veins become distended and undulate. Later dropsical 

 swelling will appear below the sternum. 



Course. — ^The course in serofibrinous pericarditis varies. 

 Where the infection has been mild and little effusion occurs 

 healing is prompt. However, in most cases the condition 

 either leads to death within a week or ten days or becomes 

 chronic causing symptoms of general heart weakness, disten- 

 tion of the jugular veins and dropsical swellings on the ventral 

 portion of the thorax. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis rests upon the physical signs 

 determined by palpation, percussion and auscultation of the 

 heart. On palpation in the early stages the animal may 

 evince pain. In fibrinous pericarditis fremitus is felt by 

 placing the hand over the cardiac region. When effusion 

 is marked the heart beat becomes weak to imperceptible. 

 On percussion the area of cardiac dulness is greatly increased 

 extending as high as the shoulder line and as far back as 

 the seventh rib provided the effusion is considerable. On 

 auscultation friction sounds are heard resembling those of 

 pleuritis but occurring synchronously with the heart beat and 

 not with respirations. Obviously the friction sound will 

 disappear with the development of effusion. It may return, 

 however, when the fluid subsides. The splashing, cooing, 

 tinkling or gurgling sounds described are rarely heard except 

 in traiunatic pericarditis of the ox. 



Differential Diagnosis. — ^From pleuritis pericarditis can be 

 differentiated only when the symptoms are well developed. 

 On auscultation the friction is confined to the cardiac region 

 and occurs synchronously with the heart beat. In pleuritis, 

 unless the heart is dislocated and forced toward the right side 

 where its beat is audible, the cardiac impulse is not much 



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