CASES OF RHEUMATISM. 
313 
becomes chronic, and no swelling is observed: the pain and 
lameness not only shew themselves at irregular intervals, but are 
increased by sudden changes in the atmosphere, or by cold and 
moisture in a heated state of the body. 
In illustration of the foregoing remark, a brief history of three 
cases that have lately been under treatment may not be un¬ 
interesting. 
Case 1st.—A brown female pony, five years old, thirteen 
hands and a half high, the property of Mr. J. Livings, Chester- 
ford Mills, Essex, had been subject to lameness and stiffness of 
the loins for about two years. She had been used during the 
hunting season to drive to cover. I had noticed a straddling 
gait and arched back some little time previously to being 
called in to attend her. She had hitherto been treated for farcy. 
January 30, 1852.—I was called in to attend her; she had 
been driven to cover the day previously, and was taken suddenly 
lame, very lame in the near fore extremity. The limb was 
trembling and hot; all its joints flexed; the toe held on a level 
with the toe of the opposite fore leg, and merely resting upon 
the ground; it was not able to bear any weight of the trunk : 
movement could be accomplished only under difficult circum¬ 
stances. A fracture could not have produced more lameness. 
There was knuckling of the fetlock, tenderness and heat in the 
heel and round the coronet, and over the flexor muscles above 
the knee. The back was arched, and there was a straddling gait. 
TREATMENT.— Shoe removed, and sole and wall thinned. 
Warm poultices applied to the foot, and a mild dose of physic 
given. Hay and bran ordered as food, with which was given 
daily a little nitre and tartar emetic. This treatment was con¬ 
tinued for about three weeks without the lameness subsiding in 
the least. There might not be quite so much pain; the limb 
did not tremble so much. Appetite was not at all impaired. 
Hay and bran were partaken of freely from the first. 
Stimulants, in the form of liquor, ammonise cum ol. lini and ol. 
terebinth, in equal quantities, were now applied to the fetlock 
and coronet daily. This treatment was continued for a fort¬ 
night, when the lameness had almost subsided. The opposite 
foreleg now became affected equally severely: stimulants were 
applied to the fetlock and coronet of this limb with considerable 
advantage for about a week, and it got pretty right. Both legs 
tremble a little in the standing position, and the back remains 
arched. The oft’ hind leg then became affected with lameness 
and excruciating pain. Inside the thigh was moist and tender, 
and there was an elastic swelling over the cuneiform bones, ' 
remarkably tender. Stimulants, as before, were applied to the 
affected parts, and the following mixture given twice a day:— 
VOL. xxv. u u 
