34 
equal quantity of liniment of aconite, will be found valuable. In the later 
stages, if the joint affections show little improvement, stimulating liniments 
of ammonia and camphor with turpentine may be applied, and in some 
cases even blisters may be required to reduce the inflammation. 
\ Chronic rheumatism may follow the acute variety, or it may occur as an 
independent affection. It is not usually attended by much fever, and the 
inflammation has less tendency to shift from one place to another than in 
the preceding affection. The inflammation of the joints has a more lasting 
character, and more frequently leads to ulceration of the ends of the bones, 
on which excrescences may form. The joints may or may not be enlarged, 
and in some instances they may become fixed or anchylosed. When this 
disease is chronic from the first, laxatives should be given occasionally, and 
bicarbonate of potassium in half ounce doses, with one or two drachms of 
iodide of potassium may be given three times daily in the drinking water or 
‘asa draught. Tonics, such as iron with cinchona bark or nux vomica, are 
also required ; but this treatment as a rule is not very successful in chronic 
rheumatism. Locally, stimulating liniments are useful, -and sometimes still 
more active treatment, as the application of the firing iron is necessary. 
xX Muscular rheumatism is a very painful form, generally due to cold, 
damp, and fatigue. It mostly affects the muscles of the loins and buttocks, 
but may alsd involve the muscles of the neck, chest, and shoulders, Sometimes 
the affection is attended with slight fever. The back is eleyated, and the 
affected muscles are tender and painful. The same remedies may be given 
as in the acute form, but for the salicylate of sodium, unless the fever be 
high, we may substitute two drachms of bromide of potassium. Locally, 
belladonna liniment is very useful in assuaging the pain, and hot 
fomentations also prove valuable. The animal should be kept warm in a 
loose, well-ventilated, but not draughty box. 
RABIES, OR HYDROPHOBIA, 
RABIES, or hydrophobia, is fortunately a somewhat’ rare disease in the 
horse. This malady is an effective febrile disorder originating in the 
canine and less frequently in the feline tribe, and occurring in the horse as 
the result of a bite of some rabid animal. It has been shown by M. Pasteur, 
to be due to a living vegetable germ or fungus, and the “virus,” as it is 
termed, is transmitted through the saliva of the rabid creature. The disease 
itself is characterised by pain in the part bitten, great excitement, 
irritability, a disposition to bite, spasmodic seizures of the muscles 
prostration, and death. The disease generally manifests itself in the horse: 
in from fourteen to forty days after being bitten, and it begins with great 
restlessness, excitability, and distress. The excitability increases, the animal. 
becomes frantic, and attempts in his fury to destroy everything, and in some 
instances he bites savagely at the seat of injury. Febrile symptoms are also 
present. A flash of light or sudden noise, a disturbance of any kind, will 
bring on a paroxysm of fury. He has difficulty in swallowing, a characteristic 
