CHAPTER V. 

 RHEUMATISM. 



In bovine pathology the term "Eheumatism" is applied to a numlaer 

 of different morbid conditions, the sole connection between ^Yhich is that 

 they seriously affect the organs of locomotion. This reason may perhaps 

 be accepted as sufficient for including the study of rheumatism amongst 

 diseases affecting locomotion. 



The disease is of considerable importance, and for this reason the 

 study of rheumatism itself necessarily precedes the description of 

 pseudo-rheumatism, secondary rheumatism, or infectious rheumatism 

 in young and adult animals. 



ARTICULAR RHEUMATISM. 



Acute rheumatism has a clearly marked predilection for the arti- 

 culations. Sometimes the great serous membranes are simultaneously 

 affected (pleura, pericardium, endocardium), but only in very exceptional 

 circumstances are thej^ primarily attacked. That form of rheumatism 

 known as visceral is as a general rule secondary in comparison with 

 articular rheumatism. Several joints and tendon sheaths may be 

 attacked at the same time. Under such circumstances rheumatism 

 may be defined as a febrile disease, probably of an infectious nature, 

 revealing itself by simple or multiple inflammation of joints and the 

 tissues surrounding them, and capable of becoming complicated with 

 inflammation of the pleura, pericardium, endocardium, meninges of 

 the brain, etc. 



Causation. All authors agree in recognising the influence of 

 heredity, of wet and cold, of sudden changes in temperature, draughts 

 in the stable, prolonged exposure to low temperatures, or the chilling 

 of animals saturated with perspiration. These are and cannot be other- 

 wise than occasional causes ; but the determining cause remains at 

 present unknown. 



In human pathology it has been proved beyond dispute that a certain 

 relationship exists l)etween arthritism, or the " uric acid diathesis," and 

 rheumatism. This fact is so well recognised that doctors have said that 

 rheumatism was to arthritism what scrofula is to tuberculosis. That, 



