FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 105 



Sodium salicylate, half oz., water six oz., the dose for any animal 

 up to fifty pounds weight being one or two teaspoonsful. This 

 mixture should be given every two or three hours in a few ounces 

 of milk, until improvement is observed ; then at longer intervals 

 to complete recovery. Exposure to cold should be carefully 

 guarded against during the convalescent stage, as there is great 

 tendency to relapse. An animal with rheumatic tendencies 

 should not be allowed to lie on concrete floors. 



In the case of the young African rhinoceros, salol in one 

 dram doses was tried for about a week, but without any marked 

 benefit. This was then discontinued and salicylate of sodium 

 substituted with the result that the animal showed almost im- 

 mediate relief. This continued for three weeks when entire re- 

 covery had taken place. While this was a very striking case, 

 still, we have had equally good results in the treatment of rheu- 

 matism in other animals by the administration of this drug. 



It appears that the secret of success with salicylate com- 

 pounds, lies in the speedy saturation of the system with the drug, 

 rather than its moderate and continuous administration. It is 

 not desirable, however, to continue this indefinitely, but when im- 

 mediate relief has been secured to give the agent but twice a day. 

 If the salicylate of sodium fails to relieve, when well administered 

 for two or three days, there is reason to believe that the case is 

 not one of genuine rheumatism. In such cases a combination of 

 quinine and potassium internally might be employed with some 

 hope of success. 



In acute joint rheumatism, anodynes are often applied to the 

 afl'ected parts with good results. In such cases lead and opium 

 lotion applied freely to the joints and the parts covered with cot- 

 ton and bandaged, will be found to afford much relief. If the 

 pain is excessive, repeated doses of Dover's powder will be found 

 useful in allaying the pain. In the less violent cases camphorated 

 oil, soap liniment, or a combination of essential oils, as turpentine 

 or peppermint with aqua ammonia and linseed oil or sweet oil, 

 may secure much relief. The local application of anti-rheumatic 

 agents would embrace all the salicylates, oil of wintergreen and 

 peppermint. 



A course of tonics is often the best resort in chronic rheu- 

 matism. While Fowler's solution and tincture of muriate of 

 iron have been beneficial in the larger animals, iodide of iron has 

 been helpful in other cases. The local treatment recommended 

 for acute rheumatism is even more applicable to the chronic 



