i6o THE HORSE 



joints may be attacked. Sometimes typical cases of 

 muscular rheumatism do occur, and when this is so it is 

 quite an easy matter to recognise this trouble, there 

 being a general stiffness observed, and the patient moves 

 with difficulty. It is quite possible that many of the 

 troubles affecting the bones and joints of horses, more 

 especially ring-bone, are of a rheumatic nature. If the 

 joints are attacked there is swelling, increased heat, and 

 pain. There is a peculiar liability for these swellings to 

 shift from one joint to another and to exist for a variable 

 time. The causes of rheumatism never seem to have been 

 definitely settled, but it is usually believed that exposure 

 to cold and v/et are the forerunners of this disease, or at 

 any rate, they a.pparentty act as exciting causes in its 

 development. It is quite possible that it is an organismal 

 disease, and that whatever abnormal condition of the 

 blood takes place, it is brought about through chemical 

 changes as a result of such organisms existing in the body. 

 In this complaint a warm and comfortable stable is most 

 important, and the body must be kept clothed, the limbs 

 bandaged, and the affected parts freely massaged once 

 or twice a day with some stimulating embrocation, such as 

 ordinary white oil. Sahne laxative medicine should be 

 given internally. Epsom salts in the drinking water 

 along with half an ounce of bicarbonate of potash twice 

 a da;y will fufil all requirements. Iodide of potash is one 

 of the principal drugs employed in the treatment of 

 chronic rheumatism. 



Purpura 



This is a blood disease, or at any rate one in which 

 there is an alteration in the composition of this fluid. 

 It is a complaint which usually follows diseases of an 

 exhausting nature, such as influenza, strangles, catarrh, 

 and pneumonia, particularly where insanitary surround- 

 ings exist. It was a very common disease among army 

 horses coming from aboard ship, more particularly when 



