94 RHEUMATISM. 



patients, from 2 J to 7 drams per day. These doses are continued for six 

 to eight days consecutively. Some authors prefer salicylic acid, which, 

 however, is more irritant, in doses of 15 to 75 grains. Tartar emetic, in 

 doses of 2 J to 4 drams per day until purgation is established, is also said 

 to have proved of great value in the hands of the older practitioners. 

 Local treatment comprises stimulating frictions with camphorated alcohol, 

 ammonia, and oil of turpentine. Such applications are usually of great 

 service, particularly when associated with methodical massage of the 

 affected parts. These modes of treatment should be supplemented with 

 a proper dietary and the administration of tepid, diuretic fluids as 

 required. 



Infectious Forms of Eheumatism or Pseudo-Eheumatism. 



Under the head of infectious rheumatism or pseudo-rheumatism may 

 be grouped joint diseases of a rheumatic type accompanying various 

 general or local diseases in young animals and adults : diseases of the 

 umbilicus, rachitis, peri-pneumonia, retention of the foetus, dysentery, 

 etc. These diseases are characterised by articular symptoms, which 

 sometimes appear early, sometimes only when the disease itself is 

 declining, and develop suddenly or gradually, the joint cavities them- 

 selves either being directly invaded by the agents of the primary disease 

 or remaining exempt. These pseudo-rheumatic attacks are due to the 

 localised action of microbic toxins on the articular synovial membranes. 

 Sometimes the serous membranes of the large body cavities are also 

 implicated. 



This theory explains the development of acute arthritis without the 

 presence of gonococci during the course of an attack of blenorrhagia in 

 man, and may be applied in respect of certain forms of arthritis or 

 synovitis without the presence of microbes in domestic animals. 



INFECTIOUS RHEUMATISM IN YOUNG ANIMALS. 



Causation. To explain the occurrence of infectious rheumatism in 

 young animals a variety of causes has been invoked, such as bad feeding, 

 the absence of that purgation which usually follows the action of the 

 mother's first milk {i.e., colostrum), and clears the bow^el of meconium, 

 the effect of heredity, of chills,, of insufficient food, and of unduly abun- 

 dant or very rich food, which has been said to produce indigestion and 

 its various complications. 



All these causes may play a certain part in favouring the develop- 

 ment of infectious rheumatism, but none constitutes the direct cause. 



Lecoq and Loiset in their investigations regarding this disease in 



