ETIOLOGY AND OCCURRENCE 25 



Metastatic arthritis is seen more frequently in colts or young 

 animals than in mature horses and we here take the liberty of 

 classifying with the arthritis of omphalophleliitis and strangles 

 the so-called rheumatic variety. 



A specific polyarthritis or synovitis which attends navel in- 

 fection of foals is perhaps the most frequent form of arthritis 

 that is to be considered metastatic. This condition is truly a 

 disease of young animals and, while it is a specific arthritis, 

 the cause is yet to be attributed to any definite pathogenic organ- 

 ism with certainty. This condition is well defined by Bollinger 

 as quoted by Iloare,^ when he calls it a purulent omphalophle- 

 bitis due to local infection of the umbilicus and umbilical ves- 

 sels, by pyogenic organisms, causing a metastatic pyemia. 



This affection is grave; its course is comparatively brief; the 

 prognosis is usually unfavorable ; and omphalophlebitis occa- 

 sions a form of lameness which at once impresses the practi- 

 tioner that serious constitutional disturbance exists. Its con- 

 sideration properly belongs to discussions on practice or obstet- 

 rics and diseases of the new born, and it has received careful 

 attention and is discussed at length in these works. 



A second form of metastatic arthritis is met with in strangles. 

 Strangles occurs in the young principally and is not a frequent 

 cause of synovitis or arthritis in the adult animal. 



Strangles or distemper is, according to most pathologists, due 

 to the Streptococcus equi, Hoare^ states that in this type of 

 specific arthritis the contagium is probably carried by the blood. 

 He gives it as his opinion that even laminitis has occurred as 

 a result of the streptococcus-equi. This, indeed, would point 

 toward probable extension by the blood as well as by way of 

 lymph vessels. 



Septic synovitis and infectious arthritis are always serious af- 

 fections even in young animals and much depends upon indi- 

 vidual resistance and early rational treatment in such cases, if 

 recovery is to follow. 



The same general plan of treatment is indicated in this kind 

 of septic synovitis as is employed in all cases of infective syn- 



lA System of Veterinary Medicine by E. Wallis Hoare, F. R. C. V. S., Vol. 1, 

 page 510. 

 =Ibid, page 807. 



