254 RHEUMATISM. 



with licat and moisture, and tlic daily use of moderately 

 stimulant and anodyne liniments, such as contain opium, 

 belladonna, aconite, turpentine, or camphor, seem from 

 experience to yield the most satisfactory results. 



Generally, in all cases and every form of chronic rheumatism 

 our success in treatment is of a doubtful character, rarely is it 

 abiding ; while the occasional fact of a recovery after a pro- 

 longed attack will always give hope when amidst our endea- 

 vours we see little to encourage or satisfy. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



SCROFULA — TUBERCULOSIS. 



Definition. — A constitiUioncd disease evidencing itself in a 

 specific deposition or infiltration in connection ivith various 

 tissues — known as tubercle, and in mass as scrofulous or tuber- 

 culous matter — or in specific inflammations, ulcerations, or 

 disturbances of developmental or nutritive processes. 



Considering that this is a disease to which the horse is less 

 liable than any of our patients, as also that numerous questions 

 connected with its nature, causation, and modes of develop- 

 ment are yet in a transition stage, and liable to undergo 

 change as respects our opinions regarding them, it is unneces- 

 sary to do more here than very briefly note some of the gene- 

 rally accepted ideas and facts connected Avith it. 



Meaning of Terms. — By the term scrofida is understood the 

 indwelling constitutional predisposition, or diathesis, to exhibit 

 under favourable conditions the local changes which in their 

 development are spoken of as tuberculosis. Tubercle is the 

 minute local product existing in the state of tuberculosis, the 

 larger masses recognisable by the naked eye being spoken of 

 as tuberculous or scrofidous matter. 



Pathology, a. Nature of Scrofida. — The proper understand- 

 ing of the entire subject of scrofula and tubercle, besides being 

 darkened and rendered intricate through the misapplication 

 of terms or their varied interpretation, has often been further 

 confused where a separate value has been placed upon each 



