70 DISEASES OF THE HEART SAC 



Symptoms. — In traumatic pericarditis of the ox, the 

 heart symptoms are usually preceded by those of traumatic 

 indigestion (see this). Inquiry therefore should always be 

 made into the past history of the patient in this regard. 

 The ( cardinal symptoms are as follows : (a) In the early 

 stages stiffness and disinclination to move. The patient 

 remains down most of the time, (b) Dyspnea when the 

 patient is forced to exercise, the abdominal type of respira- 

 tion predominating, (c) The pulse is rapid and irregular. 

 (d) A pronounced undulation in the jugulars (venous pulse) 

 is seen, (e) Later edematous swellings appear under the 

 throat, neck, brisket, and chest. (/) Percussion is usually 

 painful, the animal wincing and grunting when the chest 

 is struck over the heart region. An increased area of cardiac 

 dulness may be determined in cattle if not too fat. (g) On 

 auscultation, provided no effusion has taken place, a friction 

 tone like that heard in pleuritis but synchronous with the 

 heart beat is heard. If the heart sac is filled with fluid 

 and gas, metallic tinkling ' tones modify the normal heart 

 sounds which are muffled and distant, (h) The patient 

 usually shows rise in temperature, but the fever is generaly 

 mild and atypical. Not infrequently the clinical symptoms 

 of traumatic pericarditis are entirely overlooked, the first 

 intimation of any trouble appearing when the patient 

 drops over dead. The general condition of the patient 

 due to the loss of appetite and attending infection or intoxi- 

 cation (septicemia, sapremia) grows bad. The patient 

 emaciates, becomes anemic, weak, and may suffer from 

 diarrhea. 



Course and Prognosis. — The course in traumatic peri- 

 carditis is usually a prolonged one, the condition lasting 

 often several weeks or even months. Exacerbations and 

 remissions are very common. As a general rule, however, 

 there is a slow but steady decline. Metastases are not 

 uncommon, the disease assuming the form of a pyemia, 

 leading to enlargement of the joints, lameness, etc. Pneu- 

 monia and pleurisy, and gastro-intestinal catarrh are frequent 

 complications. Death may occur at any time during the 

 disease from the foreign body penetrating the heart muscle 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



