182 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



serum in the plural cavity, also in the pericardium. The liver is 

 usually sound, with the exception of possibly slight areas of de- 

 generation. The spleen is somewhat enlarged and covered with 

 petechias. The kidneys are anemic and flaccid and usually show, 

 microscopically, a chronic parenchymatous degeneration. The 

 lymph glands are usually enlarged and hemorrhagic. 



Prognosis. — Prognosis is very unfavorable. They practically 

 all die, although a few, perhaps 15% or 20%, may yield more or 

 less to treatment, and live along for two or three years, but 

 finally succumb. No horse was ever known to fully recover. 



Treatment. — The treatment is very disappointing, but systemic 

 treatment would be as follows: In the earlier stages reduce the 

 fever with actetanilid and cold sponge baths. Stimulants, such 

 as nux vomica and alcohol, are indicated for the pulse. For the 

 blood give tincture of iron and Fowler's solution of arsenic in 

 liberal doses. In all probability the arsenic is the only remedy 

 that has much, if any, efifect, Isolate the affected horse from the 

 healthy ones and burn all of his litter and disinfect the stable 

 daily with a 5% solution of U. S. P. Liquor Cresolis, or any 

 other coal tar emulsion, and sprinkle the floor occasionally with 

 air slacked lime, or chloride of lime. Investigations are in 

 progress with a view of producing a vaccine or serum that will 

 protect the healthy horsjss where the disease is prevalent. 



RHEUMATISM. 



Rheumatism is a non-contagious disease that arises in the 

 body and it is not specific. It is a very peculiar constitutional 

 disease. Its real character is not known, but old theories at- 

 tribute it to an excess of some natural acid in the blood, such as 

 lactic acid, uric acid, etc. This is evidence of indigestion and 

 in every case of rheumatism we can trace the condition back to 

 some form of stomach disturbance. In herbivora we have more 

 hippuric acid than in other animals and if this runs to excess we 

 are apt to get rheumatism. 



Rheumatism is divided into various classes according to the 

 part affected. For instance, we have rheumatic fever. In such 

 a case the whole svstem is affected and there is no localization of 



