RHEUMATISM.                             201

recur troublesome. The disease affects the muscles, tendons and
their sheaths, especially about joints. Recovery is often tardy.

Causes.—Cold is generally regarded as the chief cause. Expo-
sure to wet, damp, cold winds, insufficient shelter, early baths
when water is very chilly, working in and out of streams for hours,
rapid cooling of the body after exertion.

Symptoms.—The first symptom attracting attention is that an
animal is very stiff or even lame without apparent cause. If able
to move about there is a shortness in the step, the leg is carried,
the joints not being flexed ; there is usually severe pain and swel-
ling of the affected parts. There is no fever unless complicated
with some other ailment, and the appetite is unimpaired. The
groups of muscles most affected are those about the loins, hips,
shoulders and extremities, in the latter in the region of the knees,
hocks, and about the middle of the fore and hind limbs. Some of
the characteristic features of rheumatism are the wandering or
shifting nature of the pain from one part to another for instance
from a hind to a fore limb, the liability to recurrence, and the fact
that the stiffness or lameness wears off or may even disappear after
exercise. In my experience rheumatism is a local affection, that
is I have never seen the whole muscular apparatus affected in these
animals.

Treatment: Preventive.—Must be directed to removal of the
causes enumerated above.

General.—Bowels to be kept regular by administration of laxa-
tives (Formulae 23 to 28). Salicylate of soda in 6-dr. doses mixed
with sugar, etc., may be tried with advantage, as also bicarbonate
of soda or potash ½ oz. twice a day for two or three days or until
pain is relieved. A course of arsenic often does good. Change
to a dry climate, which at times can be managed, is most beneficial.

Local.—In this method of treatment friction, and not the
drug, plays the most important part. Rest and hot fomentations
frequently applied to affected parts, rubbing in with friction liniments
(see Formulæ 70 to 75). Hayes recommends-the following handy
liniment:—Kerosine oil in which as much camphor as it will take
up has been dissolved.