202 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



CHRONIC RHEUMATISM IN HOR- 

 SES. 



Chronic rheumatism is generally a se- 

 quel to the acute, yet if the subject be 

 closely watched a train of phenomena 

 mav be observed very similar to those at- 

 tending the acute stage : yet differing in 

 its gradual accession : obscure state of the 

 phenomena, and less functional and struc- 

 tural changes. 



At times, chronic rheumatism, is noth- 

 ing more than a modified and protracted 

 state of the acute stage, it is migratory 

 like the former ; attacking this, that, or 

 other tissues, without reference to its ori- 

 ginal locality. For example, a horse may, 

 after a brisk driving and subsequent ex- 

 posure, become lame in the region of the 

 fore extremeties, this lameness may, per- 

 haps, be defined as sub-acute, or chronic 

 rheumatism ; from the fact that there 

 is no increase in arterial nor respi- 

 ratory actions ; but the first thing we ob- 

 serve, is, that the subject is laboring under 

 hypertrophy of the heart, perhaps cardit- 

 is or endo-carditis, and this is proof posi- 

 tive of the migratory character of rheu- 

 matism. 



Bui tohy should rheumatism attack the 

 heart ? This is quite an interesting ques- 

 tion, and thus we answer it. The physi- 

 ology of the heart instructs us that its 

 motions are governed by the impression 

 made upon the susceptible nervous tissues. 

 Its responses are physiological when the 

 whole system is unembarrassed. It is 

 the centre, not only of circulation, but of 

 sympathy, and responds to the impressions 

 made upon the general system, so that it 

 any disturbance shall occur in the animal 

 economy, in the form of fever, spasm, 

 &c, or, the horse be affrighted, punished, 

 or exposed to sudden variations in tem- 

 perature, the heart is one of the organs 

 first deranged. Rheumatism therefore be- 

 ing migratory, is apt, in travelling from 

 tissue to tissue, to locate on a deranged 

 organ, especially when that organ is one 

 so easily excited as the heart. 



Causes of Rheumatism. — The special 

 cause of rheumatism is, hereditary pre- 

 disposition. In certain families morbid 

 tendencies are transmitted from parents 

 to offspring and display themselves in the 

 developement, of parental defect and de- 

 formity. There are, also, general exciting 

 causes, such as exposure after perspiring 



freely; damp and cold stables, errors in 

 diet, or stable management, over-work, 

 &c. 



Principal symptoms of chronic rheu- 

 matism. — The subject is generally ob- 

 served to travel a limited, or stiffened gait 

 at first, when taken out of the stable ; he 

 appears " stiffened up" as the saying is, 

 yet " limbers up," as he proceeds ; this 

 depends, however, somewhat on the tem- 

 perature of the atmosphere, for the ani- 

 mal is nothing less than a walking barom- 

 eter, and the slightest alteration in the 

 weather affects him very sensibly. 



The disease may manifest itself in the 

 diffuse form, affecting the body, as well 

 as the limbs and feet, which gives to the 

 animal a sort of wirey, spare appearance; 

 yet otherwise, he appears well and can 

 play his part at the game of food, as well 

 as any horse. In the absence of all in- 

 flammatory symptoms, this peculiar and 

 almost ruined condition is designated, by 

 some, as general founder, and as no one 

 has ever drawn a line of demarcation be- 

 tween what is known to medical men as 

 chronic rheumatism, and what the rest part 

 of the world denominate chronic founder, 

 we shall consider that chronic rheuma- 

 tism is founder and vice versa. 



Passing from the diffuse form this chron- 

 ic affection may locate in the muscles of 

 the trunk; then, it gets the name of" body 

 founder," the animal is then unabled to 

 move the body in lateral .directions, with- 

 out showing an awkward stiffness, and on 

 being made to turn a corner, when going 

 at a smart gait, a stiffness, apparently in 

 the spinal regions, is generally perceived. 



At times it locates in the pectoral re- 

 gion, and in consequence of either long 

 continued pain, (which is known to ex- 

 haust muscular rotundity,) or innutrition, 

 the parts present a shrunken or hollow 

 aspect. In the absence of acute symp- 

 toms this is the veritable " chest founder." 



A disease of this character long con- 

 fined to one or both shoulders is often fol- 

 lowed by a similar wasting of the spina- 

 tus muscles and is often termed " sweeny," 

 the same condition of parts, however, may- 

 be the consequence of diseased feet, for 

 we often observe an atrophy or wasting of 

 the above muscles in animals that have 

 long been the subjects of chronic liminit- 

 is, and altered structures about the feet. 

 The term founder is often applied to a 



