DISEASES or THE OX AND SHEEP. 



369 



to the acuteness of the inflammation. Sometimes the inflam- 

 mation is confined to the tendons of the muscles which bend 

 the leg (flexor tendons), and very commonly it attacks the 

 coverings of the muscles of the thoracic walls. If the affected 

 tissues be pressed upon, the animal manifests considerable pain, 

 the muscles being very tender. 



There is a special tendency of the rheumatic inflammation in 

 one joint to disappear somewhat suddenly and appear in another 

 joint. This tendency on the part of the inflammation to shift 

 thus, is spoken of as " metastasis'' The internal lining mem- 



FiG. 42. 



The above picture (after Armatage) well shows the appearance presented by 

 an sx suffering from the malady known as rheumatism. The left hind-leg is 

 seen to be kept so situated that it may as far as possible remain perfectly at 

 rest, this near hind-leg being specially the seat of pain. The countenance of 

 the animal is downcast and expressive of resigned suffering, and the illustration 

 is altogether designed to depict that special kind of helplessness to move 

 without causing great pain, which is one of the most marked characteristics of 

 acute rheumatism. 



brane of the heart {endocardium) and the external membrane or 

 sac iiiericardium) in which it is enclosed, are sometimes attacked 

 by the rheumatic inflammation, and the valves thus become 

 involved in the disease. After the rheumatism is cured, the 

 valves of the heart often remain permanently diseased, and in 

 this manner most cases of heart affection have their origin in 

 the ox. In some instances so severe is the inflammation of 

 the lining membrane inside the heart that the animal succumbs 

 during the acute stage of the rheumatism. 



When the valves of the heart are affected, or when any struc- 

 ture of the heart becomes involved, the pulse assumes a diffe- 

 rent character. As a rule, in such cases it becomes quick and 



24 



