134 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



are the shoulder, neck and back. The joints affected in the 

 articular form are the knee, fetlock, hip, elbow and shoulder. 

 The attack is usually sudden and accompanied by fever, more 

 or less loss of appetite and soreness. Loss of control over the 

 movement of the hind parts or walking on the knees may occur 

 in the smaller animals. The larger animals show a slight or 

 severe lameness. The affected muscle or articulation may be 

 swollen, hot and tender. Pressing on the part with the hand or 

 forcing the animal to move about may cause severe pain. Weak- 

 ness and emaciation may occur in generalized and articuLir 

 rheumatism, especially if suppuration takes place in the affected 

 joint. 



The prognosis is more favorable in muscular rheumatism 

 than in the articular form. Both forms may become chronic. 

 It is frequently advisable to destroy animals suffering from the 

 articular form because of their emaciated, weakened condition 

 and the deformed condition of the joints. 



The preventive treatment consists in avoiding conditions fa- 

 vorable to the production of rheumatism. In ventilating the stable 

 we should avoid draughts. Practical experience indicates that 

 allowing a horse to stand in a draught after it has been warmed 

 up by exercise is a very common source of muscular rheumatism 

 and is especially to be avoided. Young hogs and sows that are thin 

 are very prone to rheumatism when given wet, draughty sleeping 

 quarters. Houses having dirt or loose board floors are very often 

 draughty. Concrete floors when wet and not properly bedded 

 with straw are objectionable. Although we do not fully under- 

 stand the causative factors, we can take advantage of the knowl- 

 edge we have gained from practical experience, and avoid keep- 

 ing animals under conditions that are favorable for the produc- 

 tion of the disease. It is almost useless to treat rheumatism 

 unless the conditions under which it occurred are corrected. 



Tlie treatment is both local and internal. The local treat- 

 ment consists in applying a mild liniment to the part, together 

 with massage. If the part is tender and painful, hot applications 



