436 EHETJMATISM. 



cavities and thickening of the vascular tissues are consequences 

 which frequently supervene. The distention and thickening 

 of these tissues often become permanent. 



Well-bred horses are more subject to the malady than 

 draught horses. 



The duration of the disease is from one to three, or even 

 four weeks — i.e., from its commencement to the complete 

 recovery of the animal. In describing the disease, I shall 

 consider it as being presented under two varieties : — 1st, as 

 Acute ; and 2nd, as Sub-acute Eheumatism. 



Symptoms or Acute Eheumatism. — Acute Eheumatism 

 not unfrequently supervenes upon Epizootic Catarrh ; and, in 

 doing so, it may appear either as Pleuritis (Pleuritic Eheuma- 

 tism) in the first instance, or it may manifest itself in the 

 limbs ; or the former may terminate in the latter. If in either 

 form, however, the attack will generally be sudden and 

 extremely severe. 



The patient, to all appearance, may be recovering, when 

 suddenly he will commence breathing quick ; the breathing will 

 be attended with frequent sobs, and at times it may take on a 

 spasmodic action ; the pulse will be peculiar — beating, for a 

 short time, strong and rapid ; the action will then become slow, 

 soft, and gentle ; then violent and rapid as before. 



The respiration will be attended with frictional sounds 

 within the chest ; the patient will stand rooted, as it were, to 

 one place ; the skin will be covered with patches of perspira- 

 tion, and the patient will sometimes be irritable in temper. 



In this state the animal cannot long remain. Unless relief 

 be afforded, the vital energies will sink under the violence of 

 the attack. The pulse will, on some occasions, rise as high as 

 ninety or one hundred beats per minute ; the patient will grind 



