DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 127 



animals than is generally supposed, and is frequently a 

 very stubborn one to treat. 



Causes. A sluggish liver is a frequent constitution- 

 al cause. There may also be an inherited tendency to 

 the disease. The direct causes are usually connected 

 with such agencies as lower the vital energies, as bad 

 ventilation, errors of diet, hard work, with exposure to 

 great changes of temperature, and atmospheric humidi- 

 ty (moisture). Young animals are more subject to 

 rheumatism than those of mature age. 



Symptoms. In mild cases and where local, there will 

 be pain on pressure. If situated in the limbs, there will 

 be lameness, and usually of a rather severe character. 

 We frequently have a swelling of the part affected. 

 The bowels are usually constipated. There is often a 

 tendency in this disease to shift from one limb to an- 

 other. I have seen two such cases within a month, in 

 one of which it first attacked one limb, then another, 

 and a few days afterward a % third. At each new attack 

 the lameness disappeared from the limb previously affect- 

 ed although it was very severe in each limb while it last- 

 ed. There was also considerable swelling and intense 

 pain on pressure. There is frequently a great tendency 

 to lie down the greater part of the time. This is very 

 pronounced where we have constitutional rheumatism 

 affecting the whole body. Here we have loss of appetite, 

 high fever, and the early appearance of sores on the hips 

 and elbows of the patient, by constantly lying on the 

 sides. The animal will often refuse to stand long enough 

 to eat a little food. The joints and tendons of the limbs 

 are 'peculiarly susceptible to rheumatic inflammations. 



Treatment In all cases of Rheumatism, whether 

 local or general, the early administration of the follow- 



