INDEX OF DISEASES AND REMEDIES 789 



RABIES continued. 



When a person is bitten by a mad dog, circulation through the part 



should, if practicable, be checked by a ligature, the wound washed 



with corrosive sublimate solution, and cauterised. 

 Pasteur has demonstrated that dogs and other animals inoculated with 



attenuated virus do not develop the disease when bitten by a rabid dog 



or inoculated with virus which would kill unprotected animals. 

 Like protection is generally secured if the man or animal, within a few 



days after being bitten, is inoculated with the protective vaccine. 

 The mortality of persons bitten by rabid dogs previous to 1886 was 16 



per cent. Since then many thousands of bitten persons have been 



treated at the Pasteur Institute, with the result that the mortality 



has been reduced to less than 1 per cent. 



RHEUMATISM. 



Inflammation of fibrous structures of muscles, tendons, joints, etc. ; 

 usually attributed to cold and damp ; but sometimes to specific 

 infection ; by some believed to depend upon accumulation in body 

 of some product of nutritive derangement (auto-intoxication, 

 possibly lactic acid, but more probably a toxin). Occurs in all 

 classes of patients. 



Keep patient warm and dry ; dry flannel bandages ; pot. iodide 

 internally. 



Alkalies, pot. bicarbonate and nitrate in drinking water. 



Sodium salicylate, salol, naphthol, antipyrine, aspirin. 



Veratrine or morphine hypodermically, repeated daily for a week or ten 

 days. Potass, iodide 3ij daily for a fortnight. 



Amm. acetate and colchicum ; pilocarpine hypodermically. 



When acute symptoms abated, quinine, arsenic, Donovan's solution. 



Locally, friction with compound camphor liniment, later blister or fire 

 and blister ; exercise beneficial. 



In strong dogs an emetic at outset, antipyretics, salicylate of sodium. 



Provide warm dry kennel. 



Stiffness or swelling subsequently removed by massage ; by camphor oil, 

 or soap liniment rubbed in. 



Articular rheumatism most frequent in cattle and dogs. 



Salicylates, antipyretics ; joints enveloped in cotton wool. 



Embrocations of ichthyol and lanoline, oil of wiritergreen, iodine solu- 

 tion, or mercury oleate. 



Cases simulating articular rheumatism in foals, calves, and lambs, some- 

 times result from infection of navel. 



Prevented by aseptic ligation of the cord at birth, and thorough disinfec- 

 tion of adjacent skin, by phenol, or other antiseptic, repeated daily 

 for a week. See NAVEL DISEASE. 

 RICKETS. 



Rachitis. Faulty development and softening of the bones of young 

 animals, depending upon malnutrition. 



Nourishing diet ; milk, crushed oats with linseed for herbivora ; milk, 

 meat soup, bone meal, cod-liver oil for dogs ; good hygiene and 

 exercise. 



In young animals sucking, see that mother's milk sufficient in quantity 

 and quality, and that she is well nourished. 



Aperients or antacids to rectify any digestive derangement. 



Calcium phosphate ; iron salts, lime water, glycerophosphates. 



Splints and bandages may be requisite to support the softened bones. 



RINDERPEST. 



Cattle plague. A specific malignant contagious fever affecting the 

 bovine race, but communicable to sheep and other ruminants, 

 depending upon a specific virus, and characterised by lesions chiefly 

 localised in the mucous membranes and skin. Indigenous to the 

 Asiatic Steppes of Russia and other parts of Asia. 



