370 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



irregular, and is often felt to be intermittent. The sounds of 

 the heart also are altered in character, giving rise to *' murmurs." 



A case of acute rheumatism varies in duration from about one 

 to three weeks or more, excepting when it passes into the 

 chronic form, which may last for months. In the chronic form 

 there are as a rule no marked febrile manifestations, and, indeed, 

 fever may be in many cases entirely absen-t ; the heart is rather 

 rarely affected in this variety. Chronic rheumatism, as we have 

 seen, may be left as a sequel after subsidence of the acute 

 symptoms, and may be of a chronic nature from the outset. It 

 is more persistent than the acute variety, and there is far less 

 tendency for the inflammatory action to shift from place to place 

 than in acute rheumatism. 



In the general way, chronic rheumatism, when chronic, so 

 to say, almost from the outset, is confined to two corresponding 

 joints, or at times to one limb at any rate. The joint itself 

 becomes much enlarged; it is stiflf and painful, and, as the 

 inflammatory action spreads, it may become locked and 

 immovable, owing to the growth of bony excrescences. The 

 "cartilage" (gristle) of the joint may become ulcerated, and 

 the ends of the bones entering into its formation may become 

 much enlarged owing to the growth of bony tissue around them. 

 The general disturbance of the animal may not be great, but loss 

 of appetite and loss of flesh are sometimes occasioned. Chronic 

 rheumatic enlargements are often met with affecting various 

 bones, such as the vertebrae of the back and neck, and 

 in these situations they may form large bony growths. The 

 bones of the pelvic or hip girdle are often affected, and indeed 

 the growths may occur almost anywhere. The muscular walls 

 of the heart sometimes show a deposit of calcareous matter. 



In those cases in the ox, unfortunately not very rare, where 

 the tissues below and above the enlarged joint become much 

 swollen, pus or matter is sometimes formed, and the animal 

 wastes rapidly from the discharge of matter, and he thus 

 becomes valueless. 



We have lastly to turn our attention to the consideration of 

 the treatment of the forms of rheumatism. It is advisable to 

 commence the treatment of cases of this kind in the ox by the 

 administration of a moderately active purgative ; sixteen ounces 

 of Epsom, or Glauber's salts, with one ounce of powdered cara- 



