On Lameness in Sheep and Lambs. 
11 
all future dressings must be applied according to the discretion 
of the operator. To keep the sheep warm and quiet for some 
time after the operation is indispensable. 
Diseases of the Leg. 
I. Rheumatism, or the Joint- Disease. — The affection in sheep 
and lambs known by the several names of the joint-disease, the 
joint-garget, and wood-evil, I propose to call acute rheumatism, 
because the symptoms during life, and the morbid appearances 
after death, are characteristic of no other disease. 
Acute rheumatism is essentially inflammation of a particular 
tissue (the fibrous tissue) ; therefore, wherever this tissue is 
employed in the fabric of the body this disease may manifest 
itself. Inflammation may invade other tissues also ; but it will 
be found that it has extended itself there through what is called 
contiguous sympathy, as in the case where the synovial mem- 
brane (which is not a fibrous membrane) becomes attacked in 
consequence of the rheumatismal inflammation affecting so 
severely the surrounding fibrous structures of the joint (the liga- 
ments, tendons, and fibrous sheaths of the tendons). Acute 
rheumatism generally attacks those parts that have the greatest 
abundance of fibrous tissue in their composition ; hence we find 
the large joints (the stifle, hock, and knee) tlie parts most fre- 
quently affected. The pericardium, or covering of the heart, is 
often found extensively diseased ; the pericardium belongs to 
the class of fibrous tissues, which accounts for its diseased con- 
dition in the lamb that dies of acute rheumatism (or joint-garget). 
An important peculiarity of rheumatism is its prevailing dis- 
position to shift from, one part to another: we frequently see a 
lamb become exceedingly lame in consequence of the existence 
of swelling in one of the large joints (the hock, for instance), 
which it suddenly quits, and attacks the hock of the opposite 
limb. In some cases a number of joints are affected simultane- 
ously, sometimes only one, and the rest in quick succession ; the 
joints of the spine, too, are occasionally stricken, while those of 
the extremities remain healthy. The prevalence of this joint- 
malady often proves most destructive to breeders, who lose great 
numbers of their young flock, more especially during cold and 
moist seasons accompanied by easterly wind. The subjects most 
liable to attack are the lamb, from the age of a few days to three 
months, and the ewe-hogget, a few days after lambing. The 
commencement of acute rheumatism in the lamb is marked by 
the animal becoming unable to follow the ewe ; it appears dull, 
cares not to suck, and reels in its walk ; twenty or thirty hours 
elapse, and then extreme lameness occurs ; one or more of the 
large joints are swollen, hot, and excessively painful ; the slightest 
