Wing Paralysis of Pigeons. Muscular Klieumatism. 81.1 



It attacks the wing joints exclusively, and principally the elbow 

 and shoulder joints, usually on one side, causing the bird to droop its 

 wing and to be unable to fly. Now and then it is only by making the 

 pigeons move that one can discern that one wing is hanging down. The 

 affected joint is more or less swollen and painful. 



For treatment Klee recommends putting on a woolen bandage and 

 soaking it every two hours with lead water. By suitable bandaging 

 and isolation, attempts at flying will be hindered and the joint kept at 

 rest. After 8 to 14 days painting with tincture of iodine may be re- 

 sorted to. A cure not infrequently results spontaneously. In a some- 

 what protracted course caseous masses form in the joint itself and in 

 the neighboring tissues, which may be removed by operation ; but when 

 operated on the bird generally loses its ability to fly. (Klee, Gefliigel- 

 Krankheiten, 1905, 54.) 



2. Muscular Rheumatism. Rheumatismus musculorum. 



{Myositis Rheumatica.) 



Occurrence. Muscular rlieumatism is generally a rare dis- 

 ease, although now and then it may occur as an epizootic. There 

 is no doubt that the disease is much rarer than was formerly 

 supposed where it was often mistaken for other diseases (pachy- 

 meningitis spinalis; compression of the spinal cord, rachitis, 

 osteomalacia, etc.). Horses and dogs suffer most frequently, 

 yet the remaining domesticated animals may not infrequently 

 be attacked. (Among the horses of the Prussian Army in the 

 years 1899-1908 only 0.04 per cent of the whole stock on an 

 average suffered from muscular rlieumatism.) 



Etiology. The important role played by cold cannot be 

 disregarded, but perhaps here also it only acts as a predispos- 

 ing cause, the immediate cause being probably an infection or 

 intoxication. To support this view there is the similarity of 

 the disease to articular rheumatism, as well as the fact that 

 both diseases occur at times from the same cause and in the 

 same animal. Magnin repeatedly noticed in horses attacks of 

 affections similar to muscular rheumatism which developed af- 

 ter croupous pneumonia or pleuro-pneumonia, as well as in con- 

 nection with an infectious illness which is not described exactly. 

 The disease occurs, as a rule, after exposure to damp, cold air 

 or draught, after sudden wetting through or after a cold bath, 

 and is observed most frequently in the spring and autumn. In 

 horses it arises further after long continued railway transpor- 

 tation as socalled pleurodynia (see page 84), in connection 

 with hyperemia of the lungs, and perhaps also with fibrinous 

 pleurisy (Sigl). 



Predisposition. Horses and dogs seem most inclined to 

 muscular rheumatism. Well nourished, pampered animals living 

 most of the time in warm rooms are especially subject to it. 



