RHEUMATISM. 249 



502. General remarks. 



Most horses are observed to sicken some days before an attack of 

 Strangles, and some slight fever is also present. The disease itself is 

 always accompanied with more or less febrile symptoms. These are 

 sometimes very slight, and at other times severe. 



When Strangles in a healthy animal forms regularly in the submaxil- 

 lary space, and the tumour is of the ordinary size, the abscess comes to 

 maturity without much inconvenience or trouble to the patient. The 

 throat is of course more or less sore, and there is a nasal discharge. But 

 if the animal is in low condition and the swelling or tumour is situated 

 high up towards the parotid glands, the distress in breathing is often 

 very great and the feverish symptoms will run high. 



Cases sometimes occur, which can hardly be recognised as Strangles, 

 though it is probable that they are connected with the disease, but in a 

 very mild form. A young horse for instance becomes slightly feverish, 

 and there is a swelling under the jaws, which in the ordinary course we 

 should expect to develop into the tumour of Strangles. But instead of 

 such regular development there occurs suddenly a profuse discharge 

 from the nostrils ; and after a time all appearance of Strangles passes 

 away. The horse has probably gone through the disease in a modified 

 form, or the abscess has burst into the throat. 



Many young horses remain for a length of time in a delicate state, 

 and are off and on subject to repeated attacks of catarrh, until at 

 length the ailments terminate in positive Strangles, after which in 

 general the animal rapidly gains strength and condition. It would 

 seem as if some morbid matter had been hovering about the system, 

 which is ejected by the eruptive disease. 



CHAPTER 27. 

 RHEUMATISM. 



503. Nature of Rheumatism. 504. Seat. 505. Characteristics. 

 506. Causes. 507. Symptoms. 508. Treatment. 



503. Nature of Rheumatism. 



Rheumatism is inflammation of a peculiar shifting type, usually but 

 not exclusively affecting tissues of low organisation. It may be chronic 

 or it may be acute. The acute attack is usually accompanied by febrile 

 symptoms. 



Viewed in its more general aspect, as distinguished from the cause of 

 any particular attack, this disease may be said to be a result of a low or 



