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prone to attack young animals.than old ones; moreover, those attacked are 
unfortunately more liable to future second, third, fourth, or even more 
frequent affections. Acute rheumatism very frequently causes inflammation 
of the valves of the heart, and in this is its chief danger; for although the 
animal may entirely recover to all intents and purposes, nevertheless the 
heart may be left diseased, and the animal thus be unfit for prolonged 
exertion. Therefore, when a horse has had rheumatism, his value tends to 
be diminished for these very reasons, viz., his greater liability to future 
attacks and the probable permanent damage done to his central organ of 
circulation; but it is not in every case that the heart is affected, and 
‘sometimes it may quite recover its normal condition. i 
‘We will now turn to the consideration of the symptoms of the various 
forms of this disease. In acute rheumatism there is high fever, the pulse is 
accelerated, and, if felt, will be found to be firm and full. The temperature 
is raised several degrees ; it may reach as high as 104” or even 106° F., and 
in this latter case is of very serious omen. The bowels are constipated, and 
the water passed is highly coloured, scanty, and generally clear and acid. 
In normal health it is cloudy and of an alkaline reaction in the horse, as in 
other herbivorous animals. There is sudden and severe lameness, with or 
without swelling of one or more joints, most commonly the stifle and fetlock, 
less generally the hock and knee. On manipulation the affected joints are 
found to be very tender. In most instances the heart is affected, but if the 
attack be slight, the symptoms of heart mischief may pass unobserved. 
If, however, this organ be much affected, the animal will most likely 
exhibit pain on his left side over the region of the heart, which is very 
tender on pressure. The ordinary sounds caused by the heart’s action will 
be altered in character, or replaced by what are termed “murmurs.” In health, 
the heart while beating makes two sounds for each beat, and these have been 
compared to the words “lab, dup;” but their absence or replacement by 
“ murmurs,” which sound like the letters “sh,” cannot be recognised except by 
the initiated. “The pain and swelling of the joints often subside in one 
extremity, and reappear in another, and this changing is a marked feature of 
rheumatism. Sometimes, but rarely, the inflammation does not abate, but 
proceeds, and “matter” or “ pus” is formed in the joint or joints. When 
death does occur in acute rheumatism, it is nearly always due to disease of 
the valves or of the outer lining membrane of the heart. Now, regarding 
the treatment of this disease; the animal should be warmly clad and placed 
in a well-ventilated box. A mild aperient, such as three drachms of aloes 
may be given in the first instance, and the bowels should afterwards be kept 
open by regulation of the diet, or if necessary by repetition of the purgative. 
Three or four times daily half an ounce of bicarbonate of potassium with an 
ounce of nitric ether may be given. If the temperature exceeds 103°, 
salicylate of sodium must be given in addition two or three times daily for 
two or three days, until the fever be reduced. The dose of this valuable 
remedy for the horse is four drachms Locally, hot fomentations to the 
joints and anodyne lotions, as Jiniment of belladonna alone or mixed with an 
fees aa at See pe * r 
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