MUSOULAB RHEUMATISM. 289 



Pathological Anatomy. It is very difficult to make any 

 definite statement as to the cause of rheumatism. We speak of 

 rheumatic muscular inflammation, but at the same time we do not, 

 as a rule, find any different muscular alterations on post-mortem 

 from animals which have suffered from muscular rheumatism. We 

 may find slight alterations which have occurred from other causes, 

 such as hyperasmia, slight exudation in the muscles, tendons, and 

 fascia. It is well known that slight inflammations of the mucous 

 membrane are not generally recognized during life. On the other 

 hand, we find cases in veterinary literature where very distinct 

 alterations have been observed in the affected muscles. Deposits 

 occur in the connective tissue (rheumatic callosities). These occur 

 in a man who has suffered for a long time from muscular rheuma- 

 tism, and in old rheumatic dogs we may also observe characteristic 

 alterations in acute or chronic inflammations. 



Clinical Symptoms and Course. Muscular pain is a most 

 marked symptom. This is observed in slight cases by the animal 

 having a contracted appearance of the muscles, or when by pres- 

 sure upon them they are found hard and tense. We also observe 

 that dogs affected with this disease move with fear, showing great 

 disinclination for any movement, and occasionally they cry out 

 with pain when touched or lifted in certain parts of the body, or 

 if any portion of a particular muscle is touched. If compelled to 

 rise, they do so in a slow, fatigued way. Their movements are stiff 

 and strained, and when feces are passed the animals do so with 

 pain, frequently crying or howling, or it may be they make no 

 effort, producing obstinate constipation. 



As rheumatism is generally located in the joint regions, these 

 symptoms become modified in certain parts of the body and inten- 

 sified in others. We very often see rheumatism of the back and 

 loins. Rising and stretching of the extremities and all movements 

 of the trunk are very painful. The region of the back and loins 

 is very sensitive, so that the animals cry at the slightest move- 

 ment. The muscles in the neck are also subject to this disease. 

 Animals show great pain while eating on account of being com- 

 pelled to bend their neck in stooping down to reach their food. The 

 muscles are distended and painful to the touch. If the head is 

 bent, the animal shows great pain. In rare cases we see rheuma- 



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