236 THE farmer's veterinarian 



injury and let it alone for three days, tnen clean 

 out the openings and put in some more of the bi- 

 chloride of mercury, and so on for two weeks, or 

 until the parts become healthy and the hard swell- 

 ing has decreased; then make up a bath of chloride 

 of zinc one ounce, cool water one gallon ; put the 

 foot into this twice a day for twenty minutes at a 

 time. As soon as the openings are healed blister 

 the coronet with the following: Mix 2 teaspoonfuls 

 of cantharides with 4 tablespoonfuls of lard ; repeat 

 in two weeks if necessary. When it is time to put 

 on the shoe and work the horse, a bar shoe will be 

 best. If the animal has much fever in the early 

 stages of the disease give a dose of aloes, and follow 

 this by giving 2 tablespoonfuls of nitrate of potas- 

 sium twice a day in bran mash. Later in the dis- 

 ease give a teaspoonful of sulohate of iron once a 

 day in bran mash as a tonic. 



RABIES.— See Hydrophobia. 



RHEUMATISM.—A disease which affects the 

 muscles or joints, wandering from one part of the 

 body to another. It affects nearly all animals, in- 

 cluding the horse, ox, dog, hog, and sheep. Rheu- 

 matism of the muscles is usually due to catching 

 cold, while rheumatism of the joints is often due 

 to some micro-organism. 



Stiffness, which usually comes on suddenly, is a 

 characteristic symptom. The animal may be able 

 to move only with great difficulty. The joints may 

 crack when moved, the affected muscles are hard 

 and painful to touch, the soreness may shift from 

 one part to another; and the animal sometimes 

 makes a quick recovery, only to be followed by 

 another attack in a short time or perhaps never 

 again. These symptoms may be associated with 

 a rise in body temperature and increased pulse. 



