104 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



structure of tlie urinary passages that absorption of tlieir 

 contained fluid will not occur, but sometimes acute uraemia 

 takes place, when after lithotomy urine infiltrates the 

 areolar tissue around the wound. 



Treatment comprises removal of the causes, nursing, 

 and administration of stimulants. The disease is generally 

 only a precursor of death. 



Rheumatism seems to be mainly dependent upon de- 

 creased activity of the skin and accumulation in the blood 

 of the normal constituents of sweat ; whether or not this bo 

 the case, the blood is often found to be acid in its reaction, 

 which has been attributed to the presence of lactic acid 

 and lithic acid in excess. The matters which have accu- 

 mulated in the blood cause inflammation of the white 

 fibrous tissues of the body, especially those situated in 

 connection with joints and the deep fibrous structure of 

 the endocardium and pericardium. This disease is some- 

 what frequent in the ox, and is due to exposure to damp- 

 ness and cold. Thus it is most frequent in marshy 

 countries, and during the spring and autumn, affecting 

 old rather than young cattle. It has been observed to 

 follow exposure to draughts, especially when the animal is 

 in a perspiring condition, also it appears in cows exposed 

 during or immediately after calving. Undoubtedly it is 

 hereditary. Rheumatism may assume an acute or a chronic 



orm, and becomes localised in the fasciae of the loins (lum- 

 bago, or '' chine felon ''), in the serous membranes of the 

 heart, or in the joints (rheumatic arthritis, "joint felon,^^ 



'chrocles'^). The animal at first in an acute attack is dull and 

 hide-bound ; has a staring coat, and is unwilling to move, 

 and there is generally a peculiar rigidity of the spine, due 

 to affection of the lumbar fascia ; shrinks on pressure 

 being applied to the loins, and soon the extremities be- 

 come involved in the stiffening. There are then local 

 signs of inflammation, with special hardness of the swel- 

 lings around the affected joints ; also fever is present, 

 characterised by the hardness of the pulse and the sharp- 

 ness of its beats. The animal becomes very lame on one 

 or more limbs, when suddenly the disease seems to shift 



