Sero- Fibrinous Pericarditis. 447 



unduly. When not imperative because of the high fever, it is 

 better to employ the cooling diuretics, as in pleurisy, and, when the 

 heart weakens, to use digitalis, or strophanthus, or caffeine, in 

 combination with stimulating diuretics like acetate of ammonia 

 (5 g^s.), or even sweet spirits of nitre (20 drops). 



In complicated forms of pericarditis, attention must be given 

 mainly to the constitutional affection, thus in influenza a stimu- 

 lating and supporting treatment is demanded, and in rheumatism 

 colchicum, acetate of potass, salicylate of soda, salol and similar 

 agents must be freely administered, though not to the exclusion 

 of counterirritants to the region of the heart, and other measures 

 demanded by the heart diseases. 



