RHEUMATISM. 77 



digestible description; such as small quantities of oatmea., boiled 

 linseed, pearl barley boiled, carrots, artificial grasses cut up into 

 short lengths; eggs beaten up and mixed with a little port wine; 

 beef tea; a selection to be made according to the ability of the 

 horse to partake and the effect produced. 



If swellings appear on the body, suppurate, burst and discharge 

 the open wounds should be carefully washed with a non-irritating 

 antiseptic, such as a solution of Sulphurous {not Sulphuric) acid 

 or Eucalyptus. 



RHEUMATISM. 



A specific malady, affecting particular tissues, of an inflamma- 

 tory type, attended with some swelling and much pain, a peculiar 

 characteristic being the readiness with which it leaves one part 

 and shifts to another; it is markedly affected by climatic influ- 

 ences both as regards its origin and continuance; the tissues 

 chiefly affected in the horse are those described as ' ' ivhite fibrous ' ' 

 of which tendons, ligaments, and their sheaths consist; the first 

 indication of its presence in the system is made manifest b}' an 

 observation that the horse is lame; next to the tendons, the joints 

 of the legs feel the force of the attack and here it is the 'fibro- 

 serous'' membranes that are the seat of the disease process; these 

 particular membranes may be recognized by any one who will ex- 

 amine the ends of two bones forming a joint; the end of one bone 

 is rounded to fit into the cavity of the bone it comes into opposi- 

 tion with, but both are covered with a glazed-looking membrane, 

 which with some trouble will peel off; this membrane receives a 

 fluid called synovia, secreted in a special apparatus close at hand 

 which serves to lubricate the joint and make the two ends of the 

 bones glide smoothly one upon another; not infrequently a change 

 seems to take place on this tissue under the influence of the 

 rheumatic attack, the quantity of the fluid is materially diminished 

 and the gliding function of the joint interfered with in consequence, 

 hence stiffness of the parts supervenes and causes great incon- 

 venience, even though the pain is not acute. 



The next tissue upon which the rheumatic poison centres its 

 force is the muscles; but as it is found much more frequently in 

 these muscles that are clothed with a thin, but very strong cover- 

 ing consisting mainly of the aforesaid white-fibrous tissue, while 



