PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT 



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Besides relieving pressure in the cerejjro-spinal canal and drain- 

 ing the canal, bacterial examination of the fluid may throw light 

 upon the etiological cause. 



In the event of abatement of acute symptoms, improvement in 

 paralyses and acceleration of resolution may be assisted by ergot, 

 fluidextract, and potassium iodide (H., of each § ss t i d by the 

 mouth). 



Strychnine and atropine are also useful in convalescence. 



In the epizootic cerebro-spinal meningitis a clean, dry (in view 

 of moisture as a possible etiological factor) airy barn is desirable, 

 and the avoidance of moldy food and stagnant water. The prem- 

 ises should be thoroughly disinfected, after recovery of the animals, 

 with the application of 5 per cent, solution of chlorinated lime on 

 the floors and in whitewash to the rest of the premises. 



Endocarditis, Acute. 



Acute endocarditis occurs in all the domestic animals, espe- 

 cially in horses, cattle, dogs and pigs. The acute infections — as 

 articular rheumatism, septicemia, pneumonia, etc. — are responsible 

 for it. Chorea, of humans, is very frequently a cause. 



Symptoms. — Fever; dyspnea; rapid, irregular, weak pulse, 

 associated with a violent palpitation of the heart at first, are char- 

 acteristic. The heart sounds are often not clear and run together, 

 and presystolic, systolic or diastolic murmurs develop over the 

 region of the diseased valves — more commonly a systolic murmur 

 over the right or left auriculo- ventricular valves. In malignant or 

 ulcerative cases the fever is high and intermittent, and embolism 

 of the kidneys (hematuria), of the brain (apoplexy), of the lungs 

 (orthopnea) and of the extremities (lameness and paresis) is likely 

 to develop. A contagious form is said to affect dogs. Ausculta- 

 tion of the heart may be facilitated by shaving of the hair over the 

 cardiac region so that a stethoscope (human) may be used. 



Treatment. — In acute infections — especially in acute articular 

 rheumatism — the application of blisters over the heart and alkalies 



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