724 
E. DIGGS. 
tained in the system from some cause, and I do not believe 
this to be a micro-organism. 5o on account of so much dark¬ 
ness as to the real pathology and origin of this disease, we 
will have to wait and hope that at some time in the near 
future, some one will make this grand discovery, which, no 
doubt, will assist us in its treatment. 
Of course, there are various forms and classes of rheuma- • 
tism which it will be unnecessary to describe in full, there¬ 
fore I will simply name them, as follows : Acute, sub-acute, 
chronic, gonorrheal muscular, muscullar torticollis, pleurody¬ 
nia, lumbago, cephalodynia, dorsodynia, abdominal, etc. 
Some of these forms are uncommon in the horse, or if they 
occur I am unable to diagnose them. 1 will next direct your 
attention to a few of the most important cases I have had to 
deal with. 
1. —A two-year-old colt with muscular rheumatism caused 
by exposure to cold and wet; found him lying on his side 
perfectly stiff, muscles rigid, the division of which could be 
easily seen ; pressure to any part of the body caused great 
pain; pulse quickened; temperature, io3°F. 
Gave nitrate of potash three times a day and ordered him 
turned with care twice a day for two days. I also left valeri¬ 
anate of morphine to be given as necessary, and followed this 
treatment with salicylate of soda. 
On the fourth day he was on his feet and recovered very 
rapidly. 
2. —A colt two weeks old, with articular rheumatism of 
the near hock joint caused by an umbilical abscess. 
The affected articulation was very painful and consider¬ 
ably swollen; the pulse quickened and temperature elevated. 
1 gave bromide of potash and tr. strophanthus as neces¬ 
sary ; anodyne liniment externally, and followed with salicy¬ 
late of ammonia. The foal recovered in about two weeks. 
3. —A horse eight years old, with abdominal rheumatism 
caused by influenza. There was tucking up of the flanks, 
cough, tenderness of abdominal muscles; the patient walked 
with great difficulty, being almost unable to step over any¬ 
thing; pulse quickened, temperature io2|°F. 
