j'32 • Rheumatism 



to be heredatary. 



SYMPTOMS 



As this disease is both acute and chronic, the symptoms may come 

 on very rapid or may be slow in developing. Occasionally acute symp- 

 toms as colicky pains appear in the chronic form of the disease. The 

 joint form of rheumatism is usual y acute while the muscular form is 

 more often chronic. The joint or muscular form of the disease may 

 shift from one muscle or joint to another joint or muscle, or it may be 

 apparently firmly well seated in the hips or loins or elsewhere. 



In the acute form, hot painful swellings generally develop at the 

 base of the trouble, however, such swellings are not always present. 



The muscles of the hips, shoulders, loins, jaws and abdomen are 

 the ones most frequently effected. 



Stiffness soon manifests itself and in rare cases the sytnptoms of 

 brain trouble as cerebro spinal meningitis develop. 



TREATMENT 



Keep the animal comfortable and avoid change of stable tempera- 

 ture. Give the effected cow plenty of straw bedding, water and laxa- 

 tive feeds as oats, bran, clover hay, oil meal, etc., as there is a tendency 

 fc^r rheumatic animals to become constipated, especially if the muscles 

 of the abdomen are effected. In severe constipation l/o to 1 lb. of salts 

 may be given depending on the size of the animal, and the severity of 

 the constipation. 



Where the joints or loins are swollen they should be treated as in- 

 dicated under the treatment for sprains and inflamation, page 129. No 

 medical treatment is superior. 



MEDICAL TREATMENT i 



Salicylate of soda, 1 ounce (-2 tablespoonfuls), three times daily 

 in one pint of luke warm water gives good results in chronic rheuma- 

 tism. 



Friedberger & Frohner recommend muscular injection of veratrine 

 in % to 11/4 grain doses in 15 to 30 drops of rectified spirits daily for 4 

 or 5 days and then omitting a day. The dose should start with 3^ of a 

 grain for 1200 pounds live weight and be increased 1-6 grain each dose 

 following, but should never exceed fl/o grains per dose. The injec- 

 tions are made into the muscles of the shoulder with a hypodermic needle 



