Pericarditis is a disease which occasionally runs a very rapid course, and terminates fatally in forty-eight hours or less. In ordinary cases, however, which terminate in apparent recovery, the disease generally begins to yield in a week or ten days, and excepting that adhesion remains, the cure appears to be complete in three weeks or less. But although these patients apparently/ recover, the pericardial adhesion commonly occa sions other structural changes of the heart sooner or later to develop themselves; and in those cases that the physician has the opportunity of subsequently watching, it is observed that fatal disease of the heart, primarily due to the pericarditis, almost always supervenes. In slight cases it is probable that a true cure, without adhesion, may taku place.
Pericarditis frequently arises from exposure to cold when the body is warm and per spiring. It is no uncommon result of a contaminated state of the blood, such as occurs in the exanthematous diseases, cspec:ally scarlatina, and in Bright's disease of the kidney; hut beyond all comparison, it is of most frequent occurrence in associa tion with acute rheumatism (q.v.), of which it forms by far the most dangerous com plication.
At the commencement of the disease, blood should be freely taken (if the patient is tolerably robust) from the region of the heart either by cupping or repeated leeching; and at the saute time every attempt must be made to get the system under the influence of mercury to the extent of rendering the gums leather and of affecting the breath. Not
only should calomel in small doses, and combined with opium with the view of prevent ing; purging, be frequently given, but mercurial ointment should be rubbed into tho arm-pits and inner sides of the thighs, and the mouth should be kept slightly- sore for some lime. After three or four days. if there should be much fluid effusion, a largo blister should be applied over the heart; and if the patient is not already under theinflu ence of mercury, the raw surface may be dressed with mercurial ointment. Perfect rest both of body and mind is of essential importance, and all possible causes of excitement should be excluded. The diet should be mild and chiefly farinaceous, and little or no animal food should be allowed till the beginning of convalescence. Cooling drinks are agreeable to the patient, and may be taken freely with advantage throughout the dis ease.