10 
FR. BLAZEKOVIC. 
those of pericardial primary effusion, inasmuch as no friction 
sound occurs as in hydropericardium. Quite frequently hydro¬ 
pericardium occurs as consecutive disease of dropsy of the chest 
and abdomen. 
(B) Inflammation of the Muscle of the Heart. 
Myocarditis .—During life it is scarcely possible to diagnosti¬ 
cate myocarditis, and in cattle can be merely conjectured. It 
appears either independently or associated with other diseases, but 
generally it is generated by pointed foreign substances, which 
penetrate the muscle of the heart from the stomachs. Now and 
then the foreign substance in its course from the reticulum 
gradually works its w r ay into the wall of one of the ventricles, 
even to the partition of the ventricles; as a matter of course, in 
such a case pericarditis is always present. We have already 
discused in what manner the penetrating foreign bodies lodge 
in the fleshy substance of the heart. 
The essential perceptible symptoms from which a myocarditis 
can be subjected are, groans, debility, repeated staggering, chills, 
high temperature and fever. A constant phenomenon of the 
heart-beat is irregularity of the rhythm, but equality in strength. 
The pulse is always small, quick, but very excited, and averages 
100 and more beats per minute. If at a later period insufficiency 
of the valves appear with it, it may be assumed that the anomalies 
of the valves had already existed, and myocarditis has been added 
to it. (Provided no traumatic cause can be traced.) 
If myocarditis be developed in connection with enlargement 
of the heart the physical examination will show, upon percussion, 
a corresponding dull sound. On auscultation a change in the car¬ 
diac sounds can only then be established if pericarditis and endo¬ 
carditis, or diseases of the valves, interfere. An ever present 
violent palpitation of the heart which, irregular in rhythm, changes 
to a tremulous, flickering, irregular action of the organ, is very 
easily ascertained, and is almost characteristic for myocarditis. 
Prognosis is unreliable. 
The issues of the affection are generally hypertrophy, atrophy, 
expansion, in short, intensive changes in the fleshy substance of 
the heart. 
(To be continued .) 
