270 KENNEL DISEASES. 
carried lower than usual, also toward the affected and painful side. The victim 
is very evidently afraid to bend his neck, for when he turns he rotates his 
entire body in a pivot-like manner. He gives further evidence of pain while 
eating if his food be placed on the floor, it doubtless being intensified by drop- 
ping of the head and bending of the neck. 
The affected muscles are contracted and fixed, and found on pressure to be 
tightly drawn and hard. They are also very evidently painful, for the subject 
shrinks and likely cries out when they are touched. 
As a rule these pronounced symptoms are not continuous, but instead are for 
a time much less severe, the muscular rigidity and spasm being relaxed. For 
two or three hours, aside from some stiffness and unusual care in getting about, 
the poor dog seems fairly well; but a sudden and unguarded movement, as start- 
ing up too quickly after a nap, causes a return of all the evidences of his painful 
infliction. . 
In cases in which the rheumatism is located in the loins the affection is called 
lumbago. This form of the disease may be termed acute, for its onset is sudden 
— sometimes intensely so— and the affected muscles are very painful and sen- 
sitive. After lying down the victim will not endeavor to get up unless absolutely 
forced to do so; and then it is only very slowly and reluctantly. Indeed all 
movements are painful, and he stands with back arched, or when he walks he 
drags his hind legs as though partially paralyzed. But in certain positions his 
sufferings are even more intense, as while stooping to reach his food, or when 
his bowels are moving, especially if there is straining; in consequence of which 
he cries or howls with pain. 
So severely does he suffer, unless relief comes speedily there is soon seem- 
ingly complete loss of power in the hind legs; but not of the nature of paralysis, 
however, for the loss is not real, the condition being due wholly to lack of effort. 
And movement is sometimes resisted to such extent, through fear of pain, that 
the bladder becomes over-distended; which condition, if allowed to persist, will 
result in true paralysis of that organ. The fear of pain also often prevents effort 
to move the bowels, and obstinate constipation is the consequence. 
Rheumatism may run a rapid course and speedily disappear without any 
special treatment, or it may persist for a long time and prove exceedingly obsti- 
nate. One attack favors the occurrence of subsequent attacks. 
Due regard must be paid to hygienic measures. The diet should be nutri- 
tious and easily digestible. It ought, also, to be in proportion to the need. 
That is, with overfed patients some restriction should be practised; while those 
that are not well nourished and strong should be generously fed. As soon as 
possible regular exercise should be adopted; and that also ought to be duly 
adjusted, the overweighted and inactive being forced to take goodly amount. 
The quarters should be dry, warm, and accessible to sunlight; and during. 
the painful period quiet should be the rule, exercise being admissible only after 
