1 Faz, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 105 
__, Our Queensland farm-fed pigs are soft and flabby if fed solely on a milk 
| *nd whey diet, and the flesh has a white insipid appearance; but fed on crushed 
aioe cob meal, with abundance of green feed, clean water, and ashes, there 
<tittle left to be desired in the appearance and feel of the flesh of our farmers’ 
Pgs, and the hams and bacon are excellent.—Ed. Q. 4. J. 
The Horse. 
STABLE NOTES. 
By W. C. QUINNELL, M.R.C.V 8. 
GENERAL DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
RHEUMATISM. 
a 1 heunatism is inflammation usually affecting tissues of low organisation, 
i h as the fibrous structures of muscles, tendons, sheath, and joints; and, 
;casionally, rheumatism attacks places of higher organisation—as the heart. 
rin proximate cause of this disease is believed to depend upon a poisonous 
bstance—the accumulation in the body of some product of nutritive derange- 
Ment. This poison is considered to be lactic acid circulating in the blood. 
Varieties —This disease may be divided into— 
(1) Acute. 
(2) Chronic. 
(3) Muscular rheumatism. 
4 Q) Acute Rheumatism.—It is a constitutional fever, characterised by the 
peal tendency to inflammation of certain structures—as the articulations, the 
7. etings or sheaths of the tendons and muscles, the covering and lining mem- 
ans (pericardium and endocardium) of the heart. These inflammations are 
ed metastatic, as they have a tendency to shift from one part to another. 
kat Causes.— (a) Exciting—are exposure to cold and wet, sudden chills, damp 
i malhysienic conditions. (0) Predisposing, a constitutional tendency—the 
called “rheumatic diathesis.” 
The Symptoms.—Febrile disturbance is noticed usually before local symptoms. 
Tae 18 sudden and severe lameness with or without swelling of one or more 
Son b When the attack be severe, or if it be continued, affected parts will - 
stifle ecome hot and swollen. The parts attacked are most commonly the 
a and fetlock, less commonly the hock and knee. . When rheumatism arises 
man} exposure to cold or wet, it generally affects the loms or shoulders. On 
ait pulation the affected parts are found to be excessively tender. The 
Thee rature is elevated, and may reach as high as 104 to 106 degrees Fahr. 
aglanteepe is increased, and, as a rule, is firm and full. The urine is high 
ipp red, scanty, acid on. neutral in reaction, contaming what is known as 
10s te beanies and hippuric acid in considerable quantities. The bowels are 
A cc pea In most cases the heart is affected, and very severe symptoms 
of th emselves., There will be a great amount of tenderness over the region 
reas heart, and the heart sounds will be found altered in character. It 
PPens in some eases that the inflammation of the joints does not abate, and 
an geative symptoms develop; in these cases the fever becomes more severe, 
hally the joint is destroyed. 
N Dr eatment.—In all cases it is necessary to keep the bowels in a loose state. 
Direag ee sho uld be recommended—such as a small dose of aloes, or a saline 
Resa Half-a-pint of linseed oil may be selected and repeated according 
umstances, 
tendon © abstraction of blood should be prohibited, as it is believed to increase 
dose ft to heart symptoms. Bicarbonate of potassium should be given in full 
ce or four days, with spirit of nitric ether. If the temperature 
