Treatment. 



1051 



upon it a trocar, at least 25 cm. long and 5 mm. thick is carried forward witli 

 the right hand until the heart beat is communicated to it. The trocar is now 

 pointed inward and forward and is forced with a sharp thrust about 3-4 cm. 

 into the pericardium, the fluid being allowed to escape by removing the stylet. 

 A strip of iodoform gauze is placed into the wound, a compressing dressing is 

 applied to the chest and renewed from time to time. The edema disappeaTS, in 

 the course of a few days, for a time, when the animal may be slaughtered. 



VMi 



Fig. 182. Field of operation for puncture of the pericardium from the xiphoid carti- 

 lage. LB linea alba; If costal arch; VMa milkvein; P point of incision. (After 



Moussu.) 



Lienaux calls attention to the fact that in the presence of adhesions the 

 operation fails just at this point of punetion, or that the trocar may enter the 

 ventricle, in which cace a stream of blood will escape through the trocar. This 

 accident appears however to be of no importance. 



In order to prevent possible complications (phlegmons, malignant edema), 

 Lienaux drains the pericardium, after punetion, by introducing a rubber drain 

 with lateral openings through' the canula into the pericardial sac and securing 

 it with sutures after removal of the canula. In a case treated in this manner 

 the exudate disappeared permanently so that the animal could be fattened. 



Chronic pericarditis can hardly be treated successfully. At 

 best the animals must be saved from exertion and receive car- 

 diac remedies. Animals which are intended for slaughter shoiild 

 be killed as early as possible. 



Literature. Albrecht, W. f. Tk., 1893. 259. — Aubry, J. vet., 1905. 855. — 

 Bragadin, T. Z., 1904. 420. — de Bruin, Monh., 1900. XI. 1 (Lit. on traumat. 

 Pericarditis). — Dottl, W. f. Tk., 19C8. 227. — Eber, Z. f. Tm., 1906. X. 321. — 

 Bisenmann, Monh., 1906. XVII. 17. — Gmeiner, B. t. W., 1906. 409. — Henniges, 

 Mag., 1848. 514. — Jensen, Maanedsskr., 1905. XVIII. 35. — Jowett, J. of comp. 

 Path., 1908. XXL 324. — Klaber, B. t. W., 1901. 731. — Koppitz, T. Z., 1906. 

 537. — Leblanc, J. vet., 1905. 78. — Lewin, Z. f. Vk., 1894. 18. — Lienaux, 

 Ann., 1905. 314; 1908. 311. — Mathis, J. v6t., 1904. 277. — Moussu, Rec, 1901. 

 465; Bull., 1905. 296. — Noack, S. B., 1889. 74; 1890. 81. — Otto, ibid., 1899. 

 91. _ Petit, Bull., 1901. 264; 1905. 281. — Schmidt, P. Mt, 1871-72. 162. — 

 Sonnenberg, B. t. W., 1909. 171. — Teetz, Z. f. Plhyg., 1904. XIV. 61. — Wyssmann, 

 B. t. W., 1905. 387 (Lit. on tuberk Pericarditis of cattle). 



Compression of the h^art (so-called pseudoperiearditis) . Aside 

 from the compression of the heart which is; produced by a copious peri- 

 cardial exudate, the organ may be crowded or displaced by formations 

 outside of the pericardium; this occurs especially in cattle, but some- 



