RHEUMATISM. 85 



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dreadfully increaFu'd ; but, in general, this gradually subsides — it 

 sinlvs below the u&ual standard — it ceases altogether. 



If he is examined after death, there will usually, about the 

 region of the loins, be inflammation of the membranes of the 

 spinal cord, or of the cord itself. The medullary matter will be 

 found of a yellow color, or injected with spots of blood, or it will 

 be softened, and have become semifluid. 



The treatment is simple. It should commence with bleeding 

 until the pulse begins to falter or the horse to reel. To this 

 should follow a strong cathartic. The loins should be covered 

 with a mustard poultice frequently renewed. The horse should 

 be warmly clothed, supplied plentifully with mashes, but with- 

 out a kernel of grain in them ; and frequent injections administer- 

 ed. If favorable symptoms appear, the horse must not be in the 

 slightest degree neglected, nor the medical treatment suspended, 

 for in no disease is there a greater liability of relapse, and in 

 none is a relapse more fatal. Palsy of the horse is an inflamma- 

 tory complaint, and under no circumstances should grain or any 

 tonic medicine be given. 



If the heat and tenderness abate, and the animal regains a 

 freer use of his limbs, or if it is becoming a case of chronic palsy, 

 an extensive and stimulating charge over the loins should be 

 immediately applied. It will accomplish three purposes : there 

 will be the pruiciple of counter-irritation — a defence against the 

 cold — and a useful support of the limbs. 



RHEUMATISM. 



It is only of late years that this has been admitted into the 

 list of the diseases of the horse, although it is in truth a very 

 common affection. It is frequent in old horses that have been 

 early abused, and among younger ones whose powers have been 

 severely taxed. The lameness is frequently excessive, and the 

 pain is evidently excruciating. The animal dares not to rest the 

 shghtest portion of its weight on the limb, or even to touch the 

 ground with his toe. He is heaving at the flanks, sweating pro- 

 fusely, his countenance plainly indicative of the agony he feels ; 

 but there is at first no heat, or swelling, or tenderness. With 

 proper treatment, the pain and the lameness gradually disappear ; 

 but in other instances the fasciae of the muscles become thick- 

 ened — the ligaments are also thickened and rigid — ^the capsules 

 of the joint are loaded with a glairy fluid, and the joint is evi- 

 dently enlarged. This is simply rheumatism ; but if it is neg- 

 lected, palsy soon associates itself with, or succeeds to, the com- 

 plaint ; and the loss of nervous power follows the difficultY oi 

 pain of moving. 



