Symptoms. Course. 807 



are the stifle, carpal, hock and fetlock joints. A prominent 

 symptom is acute pain, and as a result the animal goes lame 

 and resents the joint being handled, seeking to avoid its being 

 subjected to passive movement. On standing at rest the affected 

 extremity will be bent (Fig. 117) and in case several feet are 

 affected at the same time the animal remains lying do^vn. The 

 diseased joint and its neighborhood are swollen, hot and tense, 

 in severe cases fluctuating in places. The local symptoms of 

 inflammation become milder after a certain time, generally after 

 one or two weeks ; they may also disappear within a very short 

 time, but frequently reappear later on in other joints. In this 

 way the inflammation may attack most of the joints of the ex- 

 tremities in succession, while the other joints are affected only 

 exceptionally; at times, however, the same joint is attacked 

 repeatedly, and finally deformity of the joint occurs, whereby its 

 mobility suffers an increasing restriction. 



At the commencement there occurs a febrile rise of tem- 

 perature, and at times the s^aiiptoms of fever precede the local 

 symptoms. 



The rise of temperature is usually considerable (40.5- 

 41.0° C), and at the same time the breathing is quickened and 

 shallow, while the number of pulse beats may be double the 

 normal. 



The appetite declines, rumination is suppressed, the dis- 

 charge of feces is retarded, the urine is dark in color, its quan- 

 tity is diminished. The milk secretion is likemse lowered or 

 ceases altogether ; the milk tastes sour and clots easily. 



In animals that remain continuously lying down, pressure 

 necrosis of the skin develops which may be the source of a gen- 

 eral septic infection. 



Complications may occur after a few days in severe cases, 

 sometimes, however, they commence only during the stage of 

 improvement. Most frequently inflammation of the serous and 

 similar membranes is observed (serous inflammation of the 

 tendons and tendon sheaths, less often verrucous or ulcerous 

 endocarditis, further pericarditis, sero-fibrinous pleuritis, or 

 peritonitis, etc.). The development of such symptoms is gen- 

 erally announced by a more decided rise of temperature and 

 by general fever symptoms which are followed by the specific 

 symptoms of the respective local affections. 



Course. The separate attacks run an acute course and con- 

 tinue for 2 or 3 weeks ; occasionally they last, with distinct re- 

 missions, for several months. The decline of an attack does 

 not, however, mean a cure of the disease. On the contrary, it is 

 very frequently noticed that a complete cessation of the symp- 

 toms occurs, followed after a certain time by a recurrence of 

 the process in the same or in other joints, and that not only 

 changes in the joint arise, but also the nutrition of the patient 



