General Diseases. 341 
a very opposite treatment. The preparations of iodine are 
more suitable to chronic and articular cases. : 
At the onset it is advisable to clear the bowels: for this 
purpose saline aperients are most suitable. 
With regard to local applications, warm fomentations, 
which may be rendered alkaline or sedative, are in severe 
cases (particularly of articular rheumatism) serviceable. _ 
The patient should throughout be kept warm and dry, 
and a non-stimulating diet allowed. Milk and lime-water 
should form the chief portion of the latter during the 
earlier period of the attack. 
Chronic rheumatism is milder in its character than the 
acute form, more stationary, and less painful. An animal 
so affected moves stiffly, but apparently with no great 
suffering. Where it is articular the joints become hard, 
lumpy, and very much deformed. 
In various changes of weather, particularly when easterly 
winds or wet prevails, these enlargements become hot and 
tender, and the animal’s symptoms resemble more those of 
acute rheumatism. 
Treatment.—The carbonate of ammonia and iodide of 
potassium are, perhaps, the most serviceable agents in 
chronic rheumatism: 3 to 5 grains of the former, I to 2 
scruples of the latter, twice or thrice daily. 
The affected parts should be stimulated with repeated 
hand-rubbings, or embrocations containing turpentine and 
ammonia. Warm baths are also very beneficial. but care 
should be taken that the animal is thoroughly dried, and 
placed in a warm and dry position afterwards. 
I have already alluded to valvular disease of the heart as 
one of the complications of rheumatism. In such instances 
little can be done beyond avoiding excitement, applying 
counter-irritation to the left side, and reducing by medi- 
cinal agents the excessive action of the heart.—See “ Heart 
Diseases.” 
