PERICARDITIS 73 



affected. From diseases of the heart pericarditis can be 

 distinguished only by the symptoms of local sensitiveness on 

 palpation, increase in the area of cardiac dulness on percus- 

 sion and the absence of cardiac bruits. Where the friction 

 sound can be heard the diagnosis is greatly facilitated. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis in pericarditis should be made 

 with caution. While many wild cases recover, the severer 

 usually lead either to death or chronic disability. 



Treatment. — ^Beyond rest, good care and food, little can be 

 done in pericarditis. Recommended are ice packs over the 

 heart, but these are difficult to apply and their value prob- 

 lematical. During the stage of effusion digitalis (Bss), 

 caffein (3j), oil of camphor (Sss), strychnin sulphate (gr. J) 

 are recommended. The administration of normal saline 

 solution subcutaneously is valuable. 



Surgical. — ^Where the effusion causes great dyspnea and 

 threatens cardiac arrest puncture of the pericardium should 

 be performed. The trocar is inserted on the left side in the 

 fifth or sixth intercostal space directing the instnunent 

 upwardly to avoid injuring the heart. Some practitioners 

 follow with the injection of sterile Lugol's solution. The 

 operation should be performed aseptically. It is rarely 

 economical to treat chronic cases. 



Traumatic Pericarditis of the Ox. — Definition. — ^An inflam- 

 mation of the heart sac caused by foreign bodies. 



Occurrence. — ^Traumatic pericarditis is one of the most 

 common sporadic diseases of the ox. With the possible 

 exception of tuberculosis of the heart sac it is the most com- 

 mon disease of the heart. It occurs not only among dairy 

 cattle but also beef cattle, especially on farms where hay 

 baling is practised, pieces of baling wire being picked up 

 and swallowed. 



Etiology. — ^The frequency with which foreign bodies 

 (needles, wire, etc.) are found in the reticulum, to which 

 attention is drawn in dealing with the diseases of the digestive 

 tract, the close proximity of the reticulum to the pericardium 

 and the marked contractions of this compartment of the 

 stomach, are the most important factors in the etiology of 

 this common condition. 



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