72 DISEASES OF THE HEART SAC 



Diagnosis. — Similar to acute pericarditis except that acute 

 Inflammatory symptoms (fever, pain, etc.) fail. 



Treatment. — Generally of little value, as the primary dis- 

 ease cannot be eradicated. Diuretics and diaphoretics 

 (pilocarpin) are indicated. Tapping the pericardium may 

 be tried. 



PNEUMOPERICARDIUM. 



Definition. — Gas in the heart sac. 



Occurrence. — Rarely met with except in tramatic pericar- 

 ditis of the ox. 



Etiology. — Due to gas forming in the putrid exudate con- 

 tained in the pericardium, the result of sharp-pointed 

 foreign bodies, which come from the reticulum, penetrating 

 the organ. Rarely occurs from penetrating thoracic wounds 

 involving the heart sac. 



Symptoms. — Like those noted under traumatic pericarditis : 

 Dyspnea; on percussion increased area of cardiac dulness. 

 Auscultation: Metallic tinkling sounds — heart beat muffled 

 and distant. In some cases splashing sounds resembling 

 those of a water wheel may be heard a distance from the 

 patient. 



Prognosis. — Bad. Healing rare. 



Treatment. — See Traumatic Pericarditis. 



HEMOPERICARDIUM. 



Definition. — Collection of blood in the heart sac. The 

 blood comes from either the heart cavities, coronary blood- 

 vessels, aortic or pulmonary trunk. 



Etiology. — Spontaneous rupture or injury of the heart, 

 coronary vessels, aortic or pulmonary trunks. 



Symptoms. — In most instances leads to death in a few 

 minutes. Only in those cases where the hemorrhage devel- 

 oped slowly would the patient survive long enough for 

 clinical symptoms to appear. In such cases the symptoms 

 are those of filling of the pericardium, pale mucous mem- 

 branes, profuse sweating, dyspnea, rapid, irregular, feeble 

 pulse, uneasiness and finally death. 



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