INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART SACK.
Cause.—Cattle being ruminants, do not masticate their food finely before swallowing; consequently foreign bodies, such as nails, wire, etc., are picked up with the food and taken into the rumen or paunch. These sharp objects penetrate the walls of the paunch, rumen or first stomach and pierce the membrane or sack surrounding the heart, which produces an inflammation of the heart sack, or Pericarditis.
Symptoms.—Symptoms develop very slowly or indications of indigestion will be present as the appetite is variable, temperature elevated, breathing labored, the animal avoids walking down hill as it causes pain from the stomach and intestines pressing the lungs against the heart. The symptoms, however, are so slight that they may easily escape the notice of a casual observer. The animal eventually becomes poor, emaciated and dies. If you open the heart sack, it will be found full of watery pus.
Treatment.—Unsuccessful, as this disease is seldom diagnosed correctly, and if it is an operation is necessary and this does not prove successful in the majority of cases.