SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 288 
The objects we have to keep in view in the treatment of rheumatism 
are to relieve pain, the prevention of the spread of the local affections, 
thereby lessening the chances of their extending to the heart; to subdue 
inflammation and lessen the amount of inflammatory products within 
the system, and by direct applications to affected joints prevent it from 
continuing in a chronic form. The system of treatment that is most 
likely to accomplish this is, when the case is seen early and the fever is 
high, bleed moderately ; and as the bowels are, as a rule, inactive, give 
a dose of physic along with 5j of Pulv. Opii., following up with 5j Nit. 
Potass and 10 drops Fleming’s tincture of aconite, three times daily, in 
a little cold water; this the animal will take freely, as the thirst is 
generally great. As a reliever of pain I set great value upon the 
hypodermic injections of morphia, repeated at intervals of six or eight 
hours ; administered in this form they are not so likely to set up their 
constitutional effects. The nitrate of potass should be persistently given, 
even when the kidneys seem to be acting inordinately, as it is now well 
known to possess the property of preventing the separation of fibrine 
from the blood ; therefore it is inferred that it lessens the tendency to 
fibrinous exudation. With regard to the external treatment of affected 
parts, the application of hot fomentations, and, when applicable, en¬ 
rolling in flannel bandages, generally affords relief; but when it fails to 
do so, I have seen great benefit derived from the application, over and 
around the inflamed part, of a blister, and when the blister has acted, 
a rubbing in of a liniment, composed of aconite, belladonna, tinct. opii., 
and a little soda carbonate, three times daily. When any of the 
symptoms of cardiac disease arise, they are best combated by hot foment 
tations to the side, the application of blisters, and the rubbing in of the 
above liniment, with the internal administration of potass iodide and 
potass nitrate alternately. 
Chronic rheumatism is very often the sequel of the acute form ; but 
it often comes on independently of any previous attack, and I believe is 
much more frequently an attack of influenza. It is distinguished from 
the acute form by the absence of constitutional disturbance, and less 
heat and swelling in the affected parts. There are some cases which 
show much stiffness and lameness in certain joints, where no heat is to 
be felt nor swelling seen, and which prove very tedious and annoying to 
the practitioner, and often baffle the best directed treatment. In fact, 
they are the approbrium modicorium of our art. Examples of chronic 
rheumatism are met with in important joints, such as the navicular 
fetlocks, knees, stifles, and hocks. It is also observed in the tendinous 
parts of the muscles on different parts of the body, and there is a form 
of it worthy of notice, which, when it seizes upon the intercostal muscles, 
it stimulates an attack of pleurisy, but which may be distinguished from 
it by the absence of fever and cough, and other symptoms peculiar to 
pleurisy. Chronic rheumatism, like the acute form, almost always 
arises from exposure to cold. When there is much effusion and enlarge¬ 
ment of joints, the repeated application of blisters composed of equal 
parts of cantharides and biniodide of mercury is the most efficacious 
treatment; and where there is much pain, the rubbing into the blistered 
surface the previously mentioned liniment. As this form of rheumatism 
also depends upon a vitiated condition of the blood, nitrate of potass, 
sulphur, arsenic, or iodide of potassium, should be administered internally. 
The medicine that I have myself received the most benefit from is a 
decoction of sarsaparilla and iodide of potassium. As I said before, there 
is no remedy yet known that can claim to be a specific for rheumatism 
in any of its forms. There is a rich field open for those who have the 
