90 RHEUMATISM. 



however, does not advance our knowledge of the question in the smallest 

 degree, and it may simply he that arthritism represents one of the 

 principal favouring conditions in the development of rheumatism. 



In domestic animals the uric acid diathesis is little known, renal 

 lithiasis is no more a rarity than gravel ; but at the j)resent time no 

 one appears clearly to have established the relationship between these 

 diseases and the development of rheumatism. What, however, we must 

 all admit is that rheumatism exhibits all the phases of development of 

 a rapidly progressive infectious disease. 



Numerous attempts have been made by doctors during the last few 

 years to discover the presence of a microscopic agent and to demonstrate 

 its pathological characteristics. Several microbes have been described, 

 but one is forced to confess that the results have until now been very 

 contradictory and uncertain ; and yet there is little room to doubt that 

 the disease is of an infectious character. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are generally well defined and well 

 developed. The onset is sudden ; an animal which one day before 

 appeared perfectly well is attacked in one or several joints. Usually 

 the upper joints of the limb are involved — the shoulder, elbow, knee, 

 haunch, stifle, hock. 



Nevertheless, invasion is probably not as sudden as it appears to 

 be, and, as in the human species, the subject begins by feeling erratic 

 pains, which, however, pass unnoticed. The animal moves with diffi- 

 culty, as though it were suffering from laminitis, and has pain w^hen 

 placing weight on the limb, while the joint attacked soon shows a 

 swelling which extends to the tendon sheaths and the neighbouring 

 serous bursae. The local temperature is higher than that of sur- 

 rounding parts, sensibility becomes very marked, and pain attends 

 the slightest pressure on, or even movement of, the affected joint. 

 Intense lameness follows, which may even at first give rise to the 

 suspicion of fracture. The animals remain lying for long periods, 

 groan from time to time, and -suffer great pain when rising. 



In some cases the local manifestations appear to be transferred 

 from one joint to another. 



These local symptoms are accompanied by high fever. The 

 temperature rises to 105° or 106° Fahr., the pulse to 80 or 90, and 

 the breathing is enormously accelerated if the patients are forced 

 to move. 



Loss of appetite is very marked. Kumination may be suspended, 

 and these grave symptoms are accompanied by constipation, rapid 

 wasting, cessation or marked diminution of the milk supply, decrease 

 in the quantity of urine passed, etc. 



A few days after the onset, visceral complications may occur, though 



