Dietetic and Constitutional Diseases. 65 



solution of blue-stone or bisulpliite of soda before sowing, 

 and drying with quicklime. Contaminated soil should be 

 used for other crops. Drainage, and open sunshine are 

 conducive to healthy growth. Hay from affected pastures 

 must be cut early, before it has run to seed. 



GOITRE. 



This is a diseased enlargement of the tJiyroid body, sit- 

 uated beneath the throat, and is common in animals and 

 in man wherever the water is charged with the products 

 of magnesian-limestone. Hence, its frequency on the 

 limestone formations of New York and Pennsylvania. 

 Weakness, from any disease, poor feeding, abuse, over- 

 work, etc., aggravates the affection. In solipeds there 

 are two distinct swellings, one on each side, but ia other 

 animals and, above all, in swiae, the swelling is single and 

 in the median line. At first it is soft and even doughy, 

 but afterwards it is firm, tense and resistant, and if cut into 

 may even be gritty. In lambs it may form a great en- 

 gorgement from the jaw to the breast-bone, and the whole 

 produce of the year may be stiU-born or die soon after 

 birth. 



Treatment. Give rain-water and use iodine freely, 

 both internally, on an empty stomach, and over the swell- 

 ing. Persist in this for months. Weak solutions of iodine 

 may be thrown into the tumor by a hypodermic syringe, 

 or the nutrient blood-vessels may be tied. 



The destruction of lambs by goitre may be obviated by 

 giving the ewes rain-water, good feeding and plenty of ex- 

 ercise in the open air during the winter. 



EHEUMATISM. 



This is a peculiar form of inflammation attacking the 

 fibrous structures of the body (muscles, tendons, joints, 

 bursas, etc.,) and dependent on a constitutional predispo- 

 sition transmitted from parent to offspring. It often 

 shifts from place to place, rarely results in suppuration, 

 C* 



