446 Veterinary Medicine. 



region of the heart. Mustard and other vesicants repeatedly 

 applied often greatly hasten the reabsorption of the liquids. 



From the first the animal must be warmly clothed and every 

 means employed to obtain free circulation and warmth on the sur- 

 face. The legs must be well rubbed and wound in warm flannel 

 bandages, or this failing, may have mustard freely applied to them. 

 Warm injections must be at the same time thrown into the rectum 

 and will benefit by soliciting the action of the bowels as well as in 

 raising the temperature of the surface generally. The food al- 

 lowed should be warm mashes of wheat bran, boiled linseed and 

 similar agents in small quantities. 



If the amount of effusion threatens a fatal result, it may be 

 drawn off by a cannula and trochar introduced between the carti- 

 lages of the fifth and sixth ribs, by a valvular wound and with 

 antiseptic precaution (see hydrothorax), care being taken to avoid 

 puncturing the heart itself. 



The trochar or aspirator needle should be pushed in a direction 

 upward and inward until resistance ceases or it is felt that the heart 

 has been touched. The trochar having been withdrawn, a caout- 

 chouc tube may be attached to it and allowed to depend twelve or 

 eighteen inches) and its lower end should be plunged in a weak 

 solution of boric acid or other antiseptic. This avoids the en- 

 trance of air and insures against the introduction of serial bacteria. 



When the vital powers are being exhausted stimulants must be 

 given to support the animal, combined with iodide of potassium. 

 (See advice concerning the allied condition in Hydrothorax). 



In the chronic pericarditis of oxen the fatality is greater. Treat- 

 ment consists mainly in counterirritants and powerful diuretics 

 employed in doses determined by the strength of the animal, and 

 combined with stimulants and tonics as in the advanced stages of 

 the acute disease. 



For the dog, Cadeac recommends tartar emetic ointment 

 rubbed in and closely covered so that the patient cannot lick it. 

 When removed it must be carefully washed off as the dog will 

 readily poison himself by licking the part. It is, however, very 

 depressing : mustard or ammonia and oil are much safer and 

 better. In high fever he advises acetanilid, 50 centigrams, but 

 if demanded by a dangerously high temperature, it should be 

 stopped as soon as that moderates, lest the heart be depresed 



