OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 183 



the affection. It is generally fatal if the animal is not very 

 strong. Death comes either from endocarditis or from valvulitis 

 or both. Occasionally death is due to pericarditis. Another 

 form of the disease is found in the localization of the trouble in 

 the loin and it is then called lumbago. When it attacks the nerves 

 it is called neuralgia. The nerve usually affected is the trifacial 

 nerve. If the disease locates in the muscles it is called muscular 

 rheumatism. Sometimes it attacks the sciatic nerve and then it 

 is sciatica. When it attacks the joints it is called articular rheu- 

 matism. The disease is inclined to attack the synoval mem- 

 branes of the joints and tendons and it frequently jumps about 

 from one place to another and is called flying rheumatism or 

 metastatic rheumatism. It then seems to leave the part of the 

 body first affected. 



Rheumatism may be either acute or chronic. 



There are some who do not consider rheumatism to be a 

 specific disease, but claim that it is only a shield for ignorance. 

 Sir Richard Christison found that by injecting a dog with lactic 

 acid he could produce rheumatism. Many are now looking for 

 the specfnc germ of rheumatism. The disease is, probably, 

 largely hereditary. The exciting cause may be due to faulty 

 assimilation as is seen in dogs fed on meat only. In some cases 

 it occurs without any apparent exciting cause but there is usually 

 exposure to cold and dampness. Animals that are left out in 

 bad weather are apt to get rheumatism. 



Scmciologw — Rheumatic fever usually starts with a tempera- 

 ture of 104 or more but sometimes not over 103. A rheumatic 

 animal is more or less stiff and not inclined to move. The ap- 

 petite is good and does not vary much. The animal may or may 

 not lie down. The pulse is increased in frequency and hardness. 

 It runs about 45 to 60. 



The fever can be reduced with acetanilid but as soon as the 

 drug is stopped the fever will come back again. If a little of the 

 blood is drawn it will coagulate very quickly. After the disease 

 has been running for ten days or a few weeks the animal may die 

 suddenly. Or if he lingers along he loses flesh. His legs swell 

 and you get a jugular pulse. He may live in this condition for 

 several weeks. 



