Diseases of the Heart. 113 



Symptoms. General fever, staring coat, hot dry moutli 

 (muzzle, snout,) dilated nostrils, excited, difficult breath- 

 ing, double lifting of the flank with each expiration, the 

 formation of a ridge on the abdomen as ia pleurisy, ten- 

 derness when puiched or percussed behiad the left elbow 

 (in ruminants and small quadrupeds over the breast-bone), 

 a rubbing sound with each beat of the heart and the im- 

 pulse of the heart strong. Soon, effusion takes place, the 

 rubbing soimd is lost, the impulse of the heart and its 

 sounds are weakened and the area of dullness ia percussion 

 is increased. This duUness does not maintain a horizontal 

 Hne along the chest as in hydrothorax, but is hke an in- 

 verted cone and changes its position with a change of pos- 

 ture which is easily effected in small animals. Difficulty 

 and oppression of breathing, protruded nose, staring eye- 

 balls, pinched, haggard countenance, venous pulse and 

 obstinate standing mark the advanced stages. Dropsies 

 of the Umbs and other dependent parts are also frequent. 

 A painful cough is sometimes though not constantly pres- 

 ent throughout the disease. Death may ensue in. five 

 days to three weeks, or the disease may become chronic 

 or end iu recovery. 



The chronic form is seen in the ox without any preced- 

 ing acute attack. There is shght fever, oppressed breath- 

 ing aggi'avated by exertion, weak, irregular, intermittent 

 pulse, distant heart sounds, absence of respiratory mur- 

 mur, dullness on percussion over an increased, cone-hke 

 area behind the left elbow, venous pulse and general 

 dropsy. 



Treatment. In the prehminary shivering, treat as for 

 congested lungs. Later, bleeding may sometimes be ben- 

 eficial in strong subjects by relieving extreme difiSculty of 

 breathing and high nervous excitement. Usually it would 

 be injurious. Give a purgative (horse, aloes ; ox and 

 sheep, Glauber salts ; dog and pig, castor-oil ) foment the 

 walls of the chest and envelop in a large mustard poultice 

 until the bkin is well thickened, moderate the heart's ac- 

 10* 



