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predisposes to another. The proximate cause of 
rheumatism is exposure to damp and cold, or 
alternate heats and chills combined with damp. 
Symptoms.—The first noticeable symptom is 
stiffness in the dog’s movements. He feels unable 
or unwilling to get up with his wonted ease. 
Perhaps he cries out, and he will have to go some 
distance before this pain and stiffness be shaken 
off. This may go on for a day or two, or even 
much longer, 
At length acute or sub-acute inflammation of 
the ligaments, tendons, and sheaths of the muscles 
takes place, it may be in the shoulder, the leg 
or legs, the neck, the chest or back, in any of 
these regions, or in all combined. The dog now 
becomes restless and feverish, he moves about 
anxiously, stopping at times and crying out, as if 
he had hurt himself; or he seeks out a quiet 
corner, generally under something, where he can 
lie unmolested. 
Even in slight cases there is always more or 
less of fever. The nose is dry, the breath and 
mouth hot, and the tongue furred. The dog’s 
temper is bad, as a rule; he is peevish at least, 
and often snarly. All he seems to wish is to be 
left alone. 
Urine is scanty and high in colour, and if 
tested with litmus-paper, it gives a strongly acid 
reaction. Bowels often confined. Paralysis of the 
hind-quarters, either complete or partial, is not 
an unusual concomitant of acute rheumatism. 
Treatment.—Constitutionally the indications of 
treatment are to allay the pain and assuage the 
fever. We may fulfil the first indication by 
opium and belladonna in conjunction, as by a pill 
like the prescription :— 
Powdered opium, 34 grain to 2 or 3 grains; ex- 
tract of belladonna, 3 to 2 grains; extract of tar- 
axacum, 3 to1o grains. Mix. Given every night, 
and if there seems to be very much distress, give 
also from 3 to 10 or 15 grains of this powder :— 
Powdered opium and powdered ipecac., 2 
drachms; nitrate of potash, powdered and dry, 
2 ounces. Mix. Give thrice daily. 
Let the dog have a soft, warm, comfortable bed, 
with plenty of fresh air, but with freedom from 
draughts. Let his water, in which a teaspoonful 
or two of nitre and the sameof bicarbonate of potash 
should be mixed, be placed handy to him, and 
always kept fresh. When the dog is first attacked 
his bowels ought to be cleared with a saline pur- 
gative, and afterwards kept open with from 1 
drachm to 4 drachms of Epsom salts every morn- 
ing, combined with 3 to 10 drops of tincture of 
hyoscyamus and 5 to 20 of dilute sulphuric acid. 
Sometimes from 5 drops to 14 drachms of the 
tincture of colchicum may be added with advan- 
tage to the morning draught. 
Food.—Low at first, but if signs of weakness 
exhibited, resort to beef-tea, mutton-broth, milk, 
and eggs. 
Locally, in a case of really acute rheumatism, 
very little can be done. In small dogs the warm 
bath may effect some good. Embrocations are 
THE NEW BOOK OF THE BOG 
better suited to chronic or sub-acute cases. Heat 
applied to the seat of pain by means of a common 
flat iron I have found do most good, or the use 
of bags of heated sand. After the acute stage is 
got over, give the following :— 
Sulphate of quinine, 1 grain to 3 grains; iodide 
of potassium, I grain to 5 grains. 
And now the diet must be more generous. 
Rheumatism, Chronic.—This is known by the 
name of chest founder and kennel lameness. 
It is very often situated in the shoulder and in 
the chest. It is common in the back and loins, 
when it is termed lumbago. It is less common 
in the hind-quarters, but the feet are often 
affected. There is usually some degree of swell- 
ing, if it be in the limbs; there is little or no 
fever, though sometimes the appetite is lost; but 
the animal is stiff and lame, and cries out when 
you handle the tender part, and even when at- 
tempting to walk. 
Treatment.—Cleanliness, dryness, and purity of 
the kennels. Give the dogs their food regularly, 
and see that they are never allowed to lie out in 
the wet and cold. Regulate the bowels, and give 
tonics, or arsenic may do good. Virol cannot 
fail to improve the animal’s condition, unless he is 
gross. Avoid sugar, or, indeed, dainties of any 
kind. 
Locally.—The flat iron. Do not make it too 
hot, but just as hot as the animal can comfortably 
bear it. Do this three or four times a day, and 
always at least a quarter of an hour at a time. 
The bags of hot sand may also be tried. Another 
simple application in lumbago is common sulphur 
well dusted into the coat and allowed to remain 
in, a flannel roller being applied around the dog’s 
body all night. It may, if desired, be brushed 
out in the morning and more dusted in again at 
night. Other local applications which may be 
tried are the liniments of opium, belladonna, or 
aconite. In some cases a blister does good. 
Rickets.—Improper food is one great cause; 
taking the puppy too soon from its dam, and sup- 
plying it with a diet unsuited to its digestion, may 
produce rickets. A weakly bitch will often have 
rickety puppies. A damp kennel, and the breath- 
ing of foul air, with little exercise in the warm 
sunshine, will be very likely to produce rickets 
in a puppy. 
Symptoms.—Decline of the general health. The 
pup is not so lively as he ought to be, and has 
occasional attacks of diarrhoea. The coat is dirty 
and harsh. At the same time there will be more 
or less tumefaction of the belly. Soon the bones 
begin to bend, especially the fore-legs, and there 
is no longer any doubt about the nature of the 
complaint, although ten to one the puppy has been 
previously treated for worms. 
You must give the puppy good, wholesome, 
nourishing food; his sleeping-berth ought to be 
drv and, warm, and free from all bad smells, and 
he must have sufficient exercise and sunshine, 
Good milk with a little lime-water, and beef-tea 
o1 Bovril, may be given with advantage. 
