rcussion.

_Treatment._--The objects to be attained by treatment will be to remove
or mitigate as much as possible the cause inducing the disease; to find
a medicine which will lessen the irritability of the heart without
weakening it; and, last, to maintain a free urinary secretion and
prevent exudation and hypertrophy. So long as there is an increase of
temperature, with some degree of scantiness of the urine, it may be safe
to believe that there is some degree of inflammatory action existing in
the cardiac structures, and as long as any evidence of inflammatory
action remains, however moderate in degree, there is a tendency to
increase or hypertrophy of the connective tissue of the heart or valves,
thereby rendering it almost certain that the structural changes will
become permanent unless counteracted by persistent treatment and
complete rest.

The tincture of digitalis, in 20-drop doses, repeated every hour, is
perhaps the most reliable agent we know to control the irritability of
the heart, and this also has a decided influence upon the urinary
secretion. After the desired impression upon the heart is obtained the
dose may be repeated every two or three hours, or as the case may
demand. Tincture of strophanthus, in 2-dram doses, will quiet the
tumultuous action of the heart in some cases where the digitalis fails.
Bleeding, blistering, and stimulating applications to the chest should
be avoided. They serve to irritate the animal and can do no possible
good. Chlorate of potassium in 2-dram doses may be given in the drinking
water every four hours for the first five or six days, and then be
superseded by the nitrate of potassium in half-ounce doses for the
following week or until the urinary secretion becomes abnormally
profuse. Where the disease is associated with rheumatism, 2-dram doses
of salicylate of soda may be substituted for the chlorate of potassium.
To guard against chronic induration of the valves, the iodid of
potassium, in 1 to 2 dram doses, should be given early in the disease
and may be repeated two or three times a day for several weeks. When
chronic effects remain after the acute stage has passed this drug
becomes indispensable.

When dropsy of the limbs develops, it is due to weakened circulation or
functional impairment of the kidneys. When there is much weakness in the
action of the heart, or general debility is marked, the iodid of iron,
in 1-dram doses, combined with hydrastis, 3 drams, may