RHEUMATISM. 
201 
recur troublesome. The disease affects the muscles, tendons and 
their sheaths, especially about joints. Recovery is often tardy. 
Causes. — Cold is generally regarded as the chief cause. Expo- 
sure to wet, damp, cold winds, insufficient shelter, early baths 
when water is very chilly, working in and out of streams for hours, 
rapid cooling of the body after exertion. 
Symptoms. — The first symptom attracting attention is that an 
animal is very stiff or even lame without apparent cause. If able 
to move about there is a shortness in the step, the leg is carried, 
the joints not being flexed ; there is usually severe pain and swel- 
ling of the affected parts. There is no fever unless complicated 
with some other ailment, and the appetite is unimpaired. The 
groups of muscles most affected are those about the loins, hips, 
shoulders and extremities, in the latter in the region of the knees, 
hocks, and about the middle of the fore and hind limbs. Some of 
the characteristic features • of rheumatism are the wandering or 
shifting nature of the pain from one part to another for instance 
from a hind to a fore limb, the liability to recurrence, and the fact 
that the stiffness or lameness wears off or may even disappear after 
exercise. In my experience rheumatism is a local affection, that 
is I have never seen the whole muscular apparatus affected in these 
animals. 
Treatment : Preventive. — Must be directed to removal of the 
causes enumerated above. 
General.- — Bowels to be kept regular by administration of laxa- 
tives (Formulae 23 to 28). Salicylate of soda in 6-dr. doses mixed 
with sugar, etc., may be tried with advantage, as also bicarbonate 
of soda or potash ~ oz. twice a day for two or three days or until 
pain is relieved. A course of arsenic often does good. Change 
to a dry climate, which at times can be managed, is most beneficial. 
Local. — In this method of treatment friction, and not the 
drug, plays the most important part. Rest and hot fomentations 
frequently applied to affected parts, rubbing in with friction liniments 
{see Formulae 70 to 75). Hayes recommends-the following handy 
liniment: — Kerosine oil in which as much camphor as it will take 
up has been dissolved. 
