MUSCULAR AND TENDINOUS RHEUMATISIM. 253 



in tlie other manifestations of rlieumatism. Here it is to bo 

 noted that fatigue, general im^^roper treatment, and exposure 

 to vicissitudes of weather are regarded as specially obnoxious. 

 It may aifect any of the voluntary muscles, but is chiefly 

 known to us in the horse as seizing upon the great muscles of 

 the lumbar and gluteal regions, those of the neck and shoulder, 

 and probably also of the chest. 



Although not ordinarily exhibiting systemic disturbance or 

 constitutional symptoms, we do find that when this form of 

 rheumatism is referable to the great mass of muscle situated 

 on the loins and haunch, which we often enough observe in 

 agricultural horses, or those engaged in draught in towns, that 

 there is also well-marked symptoms of general illness or dis- 

 comfort, usually a certain amount of fever, with more of 

 derangement of the digestive system. The pulse is somewhat 

 increased in frequency, and harder than natural, with suffused 

 or injected conjunctival membranes, the tongue coated, mouth 

 pasty and smelling sour, the bowels confined, urine scanty and 

 turbid. The pain in the muscles and fascia covering these 

 causes the animal to exhibit a cramped or drawn-together 

 form, with back slightly elevated, and not at all disposed to 

 move ; on causing him to turn or execute a backward move- 

 ment, the gait is very ungainly and straddling, the horse 

 occasionally giving audible expression to its suffering. That 

 the pain is really in the region mentioned may be further 

 demonstrated by drawing the fingers with steady pressure 

 along both sides of the spine. 



When invading other regions a train of symptoms somewhat 

 similar, and called into exhibition or intensified by special 

 movement or manipulation, is well enough made out. 



Treatment. — The management of muscular rheumatism, 

 particularly when acute or sudden in its appearance, is always 

 most successful Avhen carried out both constitutionally and 

 locally ; in the decidedly chronic manifestations our chief 

 reliance is on measures more strictly topical. All those 

 remedies and systems of dietary which seem to be productive 

 of good in other developments of the disease are deserving of 

 trial in this, while probably such as partake of more strictly 

 tonic properties may be expected in the lingering cases to 

 yield the more favourable results. Of local treatment rest, 



