be given three
times a day. Arsenic, in 5-grain doses twice a day, will give excellent
results in some cases of weak heart associated with difficult breathing.
In all cases absolute rest and warm stabling, with comfortable clothing,
become necessary, and freedom from work should be allowed for a long
time after all symptoms have disappeared.

PERICARDITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE SAC INCLOSING THE HEART.

_Causes._--Pericarditis may be induced by cold and damp stabling,
exposure and fatigue, from wounds caused by broken ribs, etc. Generally,
however, it is associated with an attack of influenza, rheumatism,
pleuritis, etc.

_Symptoms._--Usually the disease manifests itself abruptly by a brief
stage of chills coincident with pain in moving, a short painful cough,
rapid and short breathing, and high temperature, with a rapid and hard
pulse. In the early stages of the disease the pulse is regular in beat;
later, when there is much exudation present in the pericardial sac, the
heartbeat becomes muffled, and may be of a double or rebounding
character. By placing the ear against the left side of the chest behind
the elbow a rasping sound may be heard, corresponding to the frequency
of the heartbeat. This is known as a friction sound. Between the second
and fourth days this sound may disappear, due to a distension of the
pericardium by an exudate or serous effusion. As soon as this effusion
partly fills the pericardium, percussion will reveal an abnormally
increased area of dullness over the region of the heart, the heartbeats
become less perceptible than in health, and in some cases a splashing or
flapping sound may become audible.

If the effusion becomes absorbed, the friction sound usually recurs for
a short time; this friction may often be felt by applying the hand to
the side of the chest. In a few cases clonic spasms of the muscles of
the neck may be present. In acute pericarditis, when the effusion is
rapid and excessive, the animal may die in a few days or recovery may
begin equally as early. In subacute or in chronic cases the effusion may
slowly become augmented until the pressure upon the lungs and
interference with the circulation become so great that death will
result. Whether the attack is acute, subacute, or chronic, the
characteristic symptoms which will guide us to a correct diagnosis are
the friction sound, which is always synchronous with the heart's action,
the high temperature with hard, irritable p