PERICARDITIS. 



455 



days after the appearance of pericardial bruits, more rarely only at 

 the end of eight to fourteen days, the jugular veins become enlarged 

 and show a venous pulse; their enlargement is due to pressure ex- 

 erted by the exudate upon the heart and large venous trunks. At 

 the same time a cold œdema invades the fetlock, the jugular regions, 

 and the larynx when the head is carried low ; this œdema is some- 

 times extended to the sternal region and even to the abdomen ; it 

 has only a true diagnostic value when it is accompanied by par- 

 ticular symptoms furnished by the heart; it may be occasioned 

 by other diseases, and in traumatic pericarditis it is sometimes 

 wanting. 



4. General symptoms. The irregularity of the heart's action 

 leads to modifications of the pulse. At the beginning it is much 

 accelerated (120 pulsations or more per minute); later it becomes 

 weak, filiform, sometimes very irregular ; its frequency varies with 

 the intensity of the cardiac affection. The temperature may reach 

 41-42° ; it is distributed unequally upon the superficial regions, 

 the extremities are at times cold, at other times hot ; we observe 

 chills and trembling. The general condition is greatly affected ; 

 the animals are very weak ; they are anxious, and their look ex- 

 presses suffering ; the decubitus and the movements of respiration 

 occasion pain and complaints ; the extremities are distended and 

 stiff, the elbows are turned from the body. Some patients preserve 

 a standing position and avoid all movement, others stretch them- 

 selves upon the soil and refuse to rise, others lie down and rise at 

 every moment. The visible mucous membranes are congested at 

 the start; later they become pale, yellowish, or cyanosed. Emacia- 

 tion increases ; we observe symptoms of hydremia, at times enteror- 

 rhagia ; the animals succumb to the progress of marasmus and to 

 the complications of pleurisy (asphyxia) or of pyemia [metastases 

 in the internal organs, metastatic abscess (Schurink), etc.]. 



Pericarditis generally assumes a chronic course with periodical 

 exacerbations. Death may, however, occur in a few days through 

 perforation of the heart and intra-pericardial hemorrhage. A small 

 number of cured cases have been reported as a result of the retro- 

 cession of the foreign body into the stomach. Between the start of 

 traumatic inflammation of the stomach and diaphragm and the ap- 

 pearance of pericarditis, weeks, months, and even years may pass. 

 Everything depends upon the shape of the foreign body, the use 

 made of the animals, the alimentation, the number of gestations 



