99 



This disease has a decided preference for the neighborhood 

 of joints ; this is seen in the swelled and inflamed appear- 

 ance of those parts, in some cases preventing the animal 

 from standing, the torture is so great — this gives rise to lame- 

 ness, which is sometimes troublesome to detect. During 

 attacks of this kind there is an increased secretion of synovia 

 (or joint oil) ; there is also considerable enlargements, which 

 are bulged out, soft and puffy. 



The disease is confined to no particular locality, and con- 

 stantly changes its place — this week it may be in fore legs, 

 next week in the hind legs. Occasionally is located in the 

 neck, producing stiffness and inability to move the head — 

 then it is vulgarly called the chords; sometimes in the fibrous 

 coverings of the muscles of the back, when it is called lum- 

 bago, and may eventually extend to the pericardium and 

 valves of the heart. 



This disorder of the horse, when it comes as a sequel to 

 other diseases, is often hard to diagnose, very obstinate and 

 intractable to remedies, and generally brings very little 

 credit to the veterinary surgeon. In some rare instances 

 long exposure to cold, with bad feet, induces a kind of 

 rheumatism. 



Treatment. — There is little use in external remedies 

 without trying first to remove the cause. We have shown 

 that the seat of the disease is in the blood ; therefore to abate 

 the constitutional symptoms should be the first endeavor. 

 No bleeding is necessary. Give the animal a ball consisting 

 of four to six drachms of aloes to mildly operate on the 

 bowels. Then the following : 



( Oil of turpentine - - One ounce. 



Take of < Saltpetre - - - Four drachms. 



( Pulverized colchicum - One drachm. 



This is one dose. Give it in gruel night and morning for 

 at least a week. Clothe the body, bandage the limbs, and 

 if the creature is so bad as not to be able to stand, put him 

 in slings. Together with the above treatment, the limbs 



