OF VETERINARV MEDICINE. 185 



one side. On the concave side of the neck the muscles stand 

 out prominent and are called the cords of "torti colis." 



In musculir rheumatism the horse has a stiff action and is dis- 

 inclined to move. He has probably been exposed to cold drafts 

 and consequently caught cold in his muscles. 



Rheumatism is not fatal unless it attacks the heart, v^hich 

 it does in two forms. When the spasmodic pain attacks the 

 heart it is called angina pectoris. In the human there is the sen- 

 sation of suffocation. The presumption is that if the heart is 

 interfered with it may produce death by spasm of the heart but 

 this cannot be detected in the horse. 



Acute rheumatism in the form of rheumatic fever is never 

 fatal unless it attacks the heart. In this case only a few cases 

 recover. 



Subacute or Chronic. — From what is known we find that this 

 form of rheumatism generally attacks older animals. When it 

 attacks older animals it is more mild. The attacks are painful, 

 but not dangerous. The synovial membranes may become af- 

 fected but when the disease locates in the muscles it often be- 

 comes chronic. In old horses it may cause sudden and severe 

 lameness which may leave in a few minutes, or it may last for 

 hours. In dissecting a case like this you will find calcareous de- 

 posits in the synovial fringes. It is supposed that this calcified 

 fringe gets in between the two bearing surfaces and causes the 

 lameness. If the horse is compelled to proceed the deposit is 

 pushed back in place and the lameness ceases. 



Torti colis may be caused by violence and rupture of the lig- 

 amentous attachment to cervical vertebra on one side of the 

 neck and this makes the head turn in the opposite direction. In 

 the very young animals this can be cured by means of splints 

 on the neck. This form of torti colis is not rheumatic in its 

 nature. 



Treatment of the Acute. — In rheumatism there is an un- 

 healthy condition of the blood. Therefore antiseptics are indi- 

 cated with the general idea of increasing the alkalinity of the 

 blood and of changing the urine from acid to alkaline. Particu- 

 lar attention should be paid to the digestion. Salines are 

 effectual. Salicylate of soda should be given in liberal doses. 



