SERO-FIBRINOUS PERICARDITIS. 



Definition, Frequency in different genera. Causes, rheumatic, trauma- 

 tism, extension from pleurisy. Unwholesome buildings and localities, de- 

 bility. Symptoms, chill, reaction, pleuritic symptoms, hyperthermia ten- 

 derness behind left elbow only, friction sound synchronous with heart beat, 

 later it is lost and heart sounds are muffled, increased area of dullness on 

 percussion, oppressed breathing, venous pulse, patient statant, little fever 

 in chronic cases. Traumatism from the stomach, digestive disorder, grunt- 

 ing, dropsy under the sternum with little fever at first. Lesions as in pleu- 

 risy, obliteration of pericardial sac In traumatism from stomach the for- 

 eign body is formed in the cardiac end of a band of lymph extending to the 

 reticulum. Treatment, in chill, after reaction, medicinal measures as in 

 pleurisy, local applications to the region of the heart. Paracentesis, inser- 

 tion of needle, antiseptic precautions. Chronic pericarditis ia oxen. 



Definition. Inflammation of the strong fibro-serous sac in which 

 the heart is contained and which is reflected on the muscular sub- 

 stance of that organ so as to form its external covering. 



This is the most common inflammatory disease of the heart and 

 has been met with more frequently in horses and cattle than in 

 the smaller quadrupeds. 



Causes. It is frequently a secondary disease and coincides 

 with or follows other infectious diseases such as influenza, pleuro- 

 pneumonia and above all rheumatism. In cattle and goats, wounds 

 from sharp pointed bodies, (needles, pins, nails, etc.), which 

 have been swallowed with the food and have passed through the 

 walls of the second stomach, the diaphragm and pleura to the 

 heart, constitute a frequent cause. The pericardium has 

 been punctured by a fractured rib and has been implicated in in- 

 flammation attendant on an abscess or other lesion in the walls 

 of the chest. Kicks, bruises, concussions, injure the heart, laying 

 it open to microbian attack. Besides these the general influences 

 which cause primary and uncomplicated attacks of the disease are 

 the same as those producing pleurisy, peritonitis, rheumatism and 

 inflammation of serous membranes generally. These are sudden 

 changes from heat to cold, cold winds, cold draughts, drenching, 

 chilling rains in animals already overheated and exhausted, or 

 prolonged exposure in severe weather, in low states of the system, 

 lycblanc justly remarks that "with the morbid influences 



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