The Thorax 129 



tremities, and to the sheath in males. In two animals examined 

 post-mortem by Siedamgrotzky there were also hepatic cirrhosis 

 and interstitial nephritis. 



Rupture of the sac may take place when there is much dis- 

 tension and softening of the wall during hemorrhage or tuberculous 

 pericarditis. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. The disease is rarely detected in 

 its incipiency. It may continue until the end of the animal's natural 

 life without being suspected, its existence being only discovered 

 post-mortem. When effusion commences dyspnea is observed, 

 which becomes very marked as the amount of fluid increases. Later, 

 when it is present in profuse quantity the interference with the 

 heart's action becomes a serious matter, the animal is prostrated, 

 its orbits project, its expression is anxious, it breathes with great 

 difficulty, cyanosis develops, and distension of the jugular takes 

 place at the slightest exertion. The pulse is frequent, small, and 

 feeble, or it may be slower than normal and irregular. There is 

 an active thirst, but infrequent micturition, and the animal pro- 

 gressively emaciates. 



In making a diagnosis pericarditis must not be confounded 

 with pleuritis. With a phonendoscope or good stethoscope the heart 

 beat can be plainly heard when the effusion is exclusively pleural, 

 whereas it can scarcely be detected when the effusion is confined 

 to the pericardium. In the latter case a splashing sound isochron- 

 ous with the cardiac movements can generally be heard, and there 

 is an area of dullness corresponding to the distended cardiac sac. 

 It must be remembered that both pleuritis and pericarditis may co- 

 exist. Accordingly, in every instance where thoracentesis is prac- 

 ticed, auscultation and percussion over the region of the heart is 

 indicated after removal of the pleural effusion. 



A test injection of Tuberculin should also be employed for 

 prognostic purposes. 



Treatment. Medicinal treatment is directed towards sustain- 

 ing the heart, reducing the inflammatory process, and preventing 

 complications. Vesicating agents, such as mustard and blisters are 

 said to produce good results. Digitalis, caffein and diffusible 

 stimulants are administered to combat cardiac asthenia. The best 

 way to remove the effusion is by the operation of pericardicentesis, 

 but many practitioners place much faith in hypodermic injections of 

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