388 
Lamenesses of Sheep and Lambs. 
wandering inflammation seizes some joint wLich may have pre- 
viously escaped, but which now becomes hot, tender, and 
intensely swollen. In fatal cases death results from exhaustion 
caused by the excruciating pain, or from interference with the 
action of the heart, induced by the inflammation affecting the 
fibrous structure of its valves and investing membrane. Occa- 
sionally the patient dies in a week or ten days ; more commonly, 
however, the disease assumes a chronic type, and involves some 
of the larger joints with the neighbouring tendons. The inflam- 
mation proceeds leisurely with its work. The vascular sensitive 
synovial fringes at first become red and angry-looking ; they pour 
out an .abnormal secretion of synovia, causing much distension 
of the joint and acute pain ; they gradually become thickened 
and infdtrated with lymph. The fibrinous exudation is also 
abundantly laid down within the joint, as well as in and about 
the ligaments and tendons. These, from the divergence of their 
fibres, are much thickened. Sometimes the cartilage suffers, its 
substance being softened and removed. The periosteum, or 
fibrous membrane investing the bones, also participates ; its 
vascularity increases, and exudations of lymph separate it from 
the bone, inducing thickenings and hard swellings. Indeed 
bony matter is sometimes thrown out so abundantly about the 
joint that its motions are prevented by anchylosis. Tiie muscles, 
on account of the limb being used as little as possible, gradually 
waste. Suppuration does not affect the rheumatic joints of men 
or horses, but amongst sheep the deposits of lymph occasionally 
degenerate into pus, while the skin softens and ulcerates, making 
way for the outward passage of the pent-up matter. Rheumatism 
often affects ewes shortly after the removal of their lambs, and 
when turned upon damp luxuriant pastures. In such cases the 
affection of the joints and muscles is complicated by inflamma- 
tion of the fibrous structure of the udder, causing much febrile 
action, and leading sometimes to the destruction of large portions 
of the udder. Early lambs dropped in cold exposed situations 
frequently become the victims of rheumatism. From the depress- 
ing effects of cold, they are often found lying quite stiff, and 
almost in extremis. The administration of a dessert spoonful of 
Ijrandy with a little ginger, proximity to a good fire, and friction 
of the limbs, will, however, usually restore the ebbing flood of life. 
Until the little creatures gain strength to resist the cold, Avhich 
they do astonishingly soon, they should remain in a sheltered 
situation, to which, indeed, all the ewes should be transferred as 
they approach lambing time. This simple precaution prevents 
much sickness and loss both of lambs and ewes. Even in spite 
of precautions, delicately-bred lambs are occasionally subject to 
rheumatic swellings of the joints, causing much stiffness and 
