ON RHEUMATISM IN CATTLE. 
891 
resolution of the internal disease, the muscular irritation is 
sily and completely removed ; but if we attempt to combat the 
•imitive affection, without having regard to the state of the in- 
rnal organs, we shall not often succeed; for it is sufficiently 
ident, that inflammations of the internal organs or membranes 
cattle, even where they are secondary, uniformly acquire a high 
igree of intensity. When the internal inflammation passes into 
chronic form, the muscular affection assumes renewed activity, 
id produces the disorganizations of which I have spoken, and 
hich are the most difficult to cure, as they belong to those parts 
hich are the centre of constant motion. 
Rheumatism is not ordinarily dangerous, when the irritation is 
mfined to the parts primarily attacked, and has not attained any 
:eat degree of intensity, and no sympathetic action has been ex- 
ted in the viscera or membranes of the thorax or abdomen. The 
tuse which produced the rheumatism, acting anew, the disease 
re-produced, and soon wears the true character of a periodical 
Section. When this is the case, it attacks almost exclusively 
le inferior joints of one or more of the extremities; circumscribed 
veilings appear, and generally with a great deal of pain; the su- 
erficiaT veins of the affected part become varicose, and the ani- 
lal is lame. When the exciting cause of the disease ceases to 
ct, and the atmosphere is less moist, and the temperature more 
niform, the lameness disappears, and the swellings diminish, but 
re veins remain varicose. 
I have no experience that simple acute rheumatism will ever 
estroy the animal, but it soon takes on a chronic form, or it be- 
omes complicated with internal inflammation, and then life is 
ometimes lost. I once opened an ox which I had treated for 
upposed chronic diarrhoea, combined with rheumatism, ihc 
mscles of the anterior extremities were yellow, and inliltered with 
erum ; and there were evident traces of inflammation in the in- 
estinal canal. In another ox I found unexpected lesions, result- 
rig from chronic inflammation both of the joints and the intcs- 
ines. 
The prognosis of rheumatism varies according as the disease 
s acute or chronic, periodical or not, simple or complicated, and 
ike wise depending on the causes which produced it. If it be 
icute, whatever be the inflammation with which it may be com- 
ilicated, the antiphlogistic treatment will generally insure a cure ; 
nit if from.the negligence of the proprietor, or the blunders of an 
impirical incendiary (empirico incendiuire), the inflammation 
should be increased, whether it be muscular or visceral, either the 
ix will perish from that inflammation, or other disorders, which 
ire the necessary consequence of the prolonged inflammation of the 
