SYMPTOMS OF MUSCULAR RHEUMATISM IN CATTLE. 



This may set in with the same abruptness as articular rheu- 

 matism, the animal in the morning after a wet, dewy or frigid 

 night showing general stiffness and lameness with extreme sen- 

 sitiveness of the skin and muscles along the back and loins. 

 The animal moves slowly and stiffly, grunting perhaps at each 

 step and shows inappetence, fever, dr}' muzzle and costiveness. 

 This is essentially rachialgia or hiiubago. Pandiculation on rising 

 is entirely omitted. 



Not infrequently the muscles of the shoulder are mainly affected 

 and become exceedingly tender to manipulation. The patient 

 seeks to remain recumbent and when raised will get up on his 

 hind parts and remain thus for some time resting on the knees 

 before he can be made to get up in front. 



When the muscles of the cro^ip are attacked the mode of getting 

 up is reversed, the animal rising first on its fore feet and re- 

 maining for a time sitting on its haunches or resting on the 

 hocks before it gets on the hind. 



If the muscles of the neck are involved there is the same stiffness, 

 soreness, tenderness and twisting to one side or rigid elevation 

 of the neck as seen in the horse in similar circumstat:ces. 



In any case there is a tendency to extension or shifting from 

 one part to another, and notably to the implication of the tendons, 

 synovial sheaths and joints. This is especially the case in the 

 acute type, while chronic rheumatism may remain long confined 

 to the groups of muscles which are first attacked. In the acute 

 forms too there is the greatest liability to internal complications 

 not only cardiac, but according to Cruzel abdominal and thoracic 

 as well. 



A fatal result is rare, but the impairment of appetite and di- 

 gestion, the constant and often severe suffering, the destruction 

 of the red globules, and the malnutrition, and increased and per- 

 verted metabolism as shown in the pallor of the visible mucous 

 membranes, the steady loss of condition and advancing emacia- 

 tion, the rigid, dr}', scurfy, hidebound skin, tends to wear out the 

 subject or render it unprofitable. In the chronic form it may 

 last for months. 

 544 



