When touched, or when one makes-beliieve to touch him, he cries out - being then more frightened than hurt. But if he be touched with the hand, ever so lightly, he screams out, or snarls and raises his back and temper. The urine is scanty and high-coloured, and the bowels confined. The mouth and nose are both dry and hot.

2. Chronic rheumatism differs from the acute, in the symptoms being of a milder and more lingering character. The pulse is little if at all accelerated; and the pains, judging from the dog's behaviour, are more bearable than in the acute form. This form may, or may not, supervene upon the acute Rheumatism, either of the acute or the chronic form, may localize itself in any part of the body where fibrous tissue is found.

It is comparatively rare that the smaller joints are involved; and like human rheumatism, that of the dog wanders about from one part of the body to another.

There are two situations which are attacked in preference to all others by a rheumatic affection peculiar to dogs in its symptoms and results: these situations are the lumbar region and the shoulder.

1. When the back is affected, the disease is not unlike human lumbago, acute or chronic, according to its violence and duration. The loins are more or less tender to the touch, and the dog is reluctant to move, and feels pain when he does move. There is this peculiarity - that the hind legs are dragged, and apparently or really paralyzed; hence some writers speak of "palsy" of this part. This loss of power in the muscles of the loins and hip may be either partial or complete, and may last the dog's lifetime. In severe cases, some degree of weakness usually remains after recovery, although complete restoration is not impossible. It remains to be proved whether or not the paralytic symptoms so often attendant on the two chief forms of partial rheumatism result from the spinal membranes, or the sheath enclosing the nerves distributed to the legs, being involved in the rheumatic inflammation.

2. When the muscles which connect the shoulder blade to the trunk are attacked, the disease is called "chest-founder," or "kennel-lameness;" this, also, may be either acute, or chronic - most frequently the latter. The symptoms are the following: - stiffness, soreness, and pain on pressure in one or in both shoulders, much increased by compelling the dog to jump, when the affected muscles are violently concussed and brought into action. The stiffness is also evident when the dog is going down hill. In protracted or severe cases, the fore legs may be more or less powerless. The disease is usually very obstinate, and sometimes incurable.

In every case of canine rheumatism, there is another peculiarity in the bowels being invariably much constipated, especially in association with the paralyzed state of the limbs. Some writers even assert that there is a "rheumatic inflammation" of the bowels in every case of rheumatism, indicated by heat and great tenderness of the abdomen, and by torpid bowels. Here it is more probable that the rheumatism is seated in the abdominal muscles.

Sprain of the muscles connecting the shoulder to the body gives rise to symptoms like those of rheumatism of these muscles; probably the two disorders have been frequently confounded, and it is certainly sometimes difficult to distinguish the one from the other.

In dogs, as in man, a dangerous complication of rheumatism is apt to make its appearance as part and parcel of the original disease. The valves which guard the orifices of the heart, and prevent the backward flow of blood, consist of fibrous tissue covered by serous membrane. These valves become inflamed, and this is especially so, when the rheumatism is acute and the heart's action increased in force and frequency. The result is that the integrity of these valves is impaired, and that an unnatural sound is heard proceeding from the heart. This sound is called the "bellows-murmur;" it must be accepted as clear proof of valvular lesion when associated with rheumatism. Another symptom of endocarditis - as this complication is technically designated - is increased frequency and difficulty of breathing. The dog may recover in favourable cases, but the heart and breathing are permanently diseased. Probably many of the cases usually regarded as "asthma" are really cases of chronic heart disease.

The materies morbi of the rheumatic fever of man is said to be lactic acid, which accumulates in the blood in superabundant quantity, and excites all the pathological phenomena of the disease. The same cause is probably at work in the dog. That this acid can produce endocarditis in dogs has been conclusively demonstrated by the interesting experiments of Dr Richardson, published in the Medical Times and Gazette of 18th July 1857. Another interesting point is that the sclerotic tissue of the eyeball was found inflamed.

A highly interesting circumstance touching "kennel lameness" is mentioned in the "Veterinarian" of 1844. It appears that the royal buck-hounds were attacked by this disease, and that the water supplied to the dogs passed through a leaden pipe, and in its course became largely impregnated with lead. The pipe was of course removed. But I can find no further reference to the matter. It would be important to ascertain whether or not "kennel lameness" disappeared with the removal of the lead - the supposed cause.

Treatment

Aconitum * is indicated at the beginning of the attack, when there are symptoms of febrile excitement; and also when the general symptoms and physical signs point out heart complication.

Belladonna, when the affected parts are extremely tender to the touch, and painful when moved, causing lameness. It is specially suitable when the shoulder is the seat of the disease.

Bryonia is indicated in cases of acute rheumatism, particularly of the legs, attended with frequent full pulse, thirst, high-coloured urine, pain aggravated by motion.

Nux vomica is frequently beneficial when the stomach is out of order and the bowels costive, and in those cases which are attended with symptoms of paralytic weakness of the muscles of the legs.

Rhus is another remedy which is attended with good results in those cases where the dog appears to have lost the muscular power of the legs, and when the muscles of the back are principally affected.

I have employed the Turkish bath in kennel lameness with satisfactory results. I may here remark that it is a great mistake to suppose that dogs do not sweat The bath demonstrates the perspiratory action of the dog's skin.

* For the doses, etc., refer to the " Introductory Remarks."