354 
RHEUMATISM IN THE OX. 
By M. Peyron, V.S., Sos. 
A FARMER at Bagaon, in the commune of Duranu, observed on 
the 3d of October, 1837, that one of his oxen had the dorso-lumbar 
portion of the spine swelled and tender; the right hock and the 
anterior right fetlock very much enlarged, and all these parts 
feeling exceedingly hot. A professed cow-doctor was sent for, 
who bled the animal and scarified the loins, which he covered with a 
mixture of blood and brandy. He then enveloped the animal with 
several thick cloths, and gave him a considerable quantity of warm 
gruel, which he drank with avidity. An abundant perspiration 
was excited, and which continued during the night, but was im- 
prudently stopped by the cowleech, who threw open the doors of 
the stable and uncovered the horse, in order to examine the scari- 
fications which he had made on the preceding day. 
From that moment the disease made rapid progress until the 
14th, when I was requested to visit the patient. I found him 
down, and his head resting on the litter — scarcely able to raise him- 
self, and, when up, having great difficulty in supporting himself — 
rumination had entirely ceased — a violent fever evidently de- 
veloped — the thirst insatiable — the food altogether loathed — the 
two hocks, the two knees, and the four fetlocks swelled, hot, and 
tender. Recognizing a case of sad rheumatic fever, I abstracted 
immediately eight pounds of blood, and ordered mucilaginous drinks, 
slightly nitrated, and emollient injections, and dry rubbing over the 
whole of the body, several times in the day, and the covering of 
the animal with sheep -skins, and sliced turnips alone to be allowed 
for food. 
1 6th . — A slight amendment was visible Another bleeding of 
seven poimds was had recourse to, and the other means of treatment 
continued. 
20th . — The fever had nearly disappeared, but the joints were as 
tender as before. Rub them well with the ung. populeum :* and 
give a decoction of poppy-heads and linseed twice in the day, 
adding three drachms of opium to each dose. 
Under the influence of this treatment the animal rapidly improved, 
and, by the 28th, the tenderness of the joints had nearly disappeared, 
and the animal had ceased its continual moanings; but the limbs still 
remained very weak, and almost useless. The narcotic drinks were 
then omitted, and the former nitrated drinks resumed. I now* deter- 
* This is a favourite anodyne liniment with our continental brethren, and 
is made of an extract of the buds of the black poplar, two parts, poppy, and 
belladonna, and black henbane and black nightshade leaves, of each one part, 
and twelve parts of lard. 
