180 
GEO. G. VAN MATER. 
a standstill, no rumination ; diarrhoea was present a couple of 
days ago, but at this time she was constipated. The lungs were 
auscultated, with negative result; the respiratory murmur was 
audible everywhere and percussion revealed a dull sound 
opposite the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th ribs up to about the upper 
third of the chest. The heart was then examined : Pericardial 
dullness present on large surface ; the beats were very frequent 
(90) strong (though the pulse was weak), there was a very dis¬ 
tinct noise of fluctuation at every third or fourth beat of the heart. 
This fluctuation noise could be imitated by gently shaking a 
bottle half full of water. There was an cedematous swelling in 
front of the sternum about the size of a boy’s head. The diagnosis 
was easily made : Pericarditis (very likely traumatic), with fatal 
results soon. A treatment was prescribed, and I was to call and 
see the patient three days after. 
When I called to see my patient I was informed that she was 
dead and buried ; she had been found dead that morning. The 
attendant showed a piece of wire, three inches long, very pointed 
at one end, and he informed me that it had been found sticking 
through the diaphragm and the pericardium. About two gallons 
of a yellowish liquid had been found in the pericardial sac. 
The heart was atrophied to a certain degree (it is always the 
case in pericarditis). This was the only information I could get 
from the man, but it was sufficient for me. 
[Written for the American Veterinary Review.] 
SOME REMARKS ON PERIODIC OPHTHALMIA. 
By Geo. G. Van Mater, M.D.,D.V.S., Lecturer to the American Veterinary College 
on Ophthalmology. 
(Syn : Moon Blindness—Recurrent Ophthalmia .) 
This affection is intimately related to certain climates, sys¬ 
tems, soils ; showing a strong tendency to recur again and again, 
and usually ends in blindness from cataract or other serious in¬ 
jury. Its causes may be attributed to soil. On frequently over- 
