216 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



muscles or increased sensibility along the spine. When the tumor is 

 within the spinal cord itself all the symptoms of myelitis may be 

 present. 



TreatTYient. — General tonics and 1-dram doses of nux vomica may 

 be given ; iodide of iron or iodide of potassa in 1-dram doses, three 

 times a day in feed, may, in a very few cases, give some temporary 

 benefit. Usually the disease progresses steadily until it proves fatal. 



NEURITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF A NERVE. 



This is caused by a bruise or wound of a nerve or by strangulation 

 in a ligature when the nerve is included in the ligation of an artery. 

 The changes in an inflamed nerve are an enlargement, reddening of 

 the nerve sheath, spots of extravasated blood, and sometimes an infil- 

 tration of serum mixed with pus. 



Symptoms. — Acute pain of the parts supplied by the nerve and 

 ftbsence of swelling or increased heat of the part. 



TreatTYient. — Hypodermic injections of from 3 to 5 grains of mor- 

 phia to relieve pain, hot fomentations, and rest. If it is due to an 

 inclusion of a ligature, the nerve should be divided above and below 

 the ligature. 



NEUROMA, OR TUMOR OF A NERVE. 



Neuroma may be from enlargement of the end of a divided nerve 

 or due to fibrous degeneration of a nerve which has been bruised or 

 wounded. Its most frequent occurrence is found after the operation 

 of neurotomy for foot lameness, and it may appear after the lapse of 

 months or even years. Neuroma usually develops within the sheath 

 of the nerve with or without implicating the nerve fibers. It is oval, 

 running lengthwise with the direction of the nerve. 



SyTTiptoms. — Pain of the affected limb or part is manifested, more 

 especially after resting a while, and when pressure is made upon the 

 tumor it causes extreme suffering. 



Treatment. — Excision of the tumor, including part of the nerve 

 above and below, and then treat it like any other simple wound. 



INJURIES TO NERVES. 



These may consist in wounding, bruising, laceration, stretching, 

 compression, etc. The symptoms which are produced will depend 

 upon the extent, seat, and character of the injury. Recovery may 

 quickly take place, or it may lead to neuritis, neuroma, or spinal or 

 cerebral irritation, which may result in tetanus, paralysis, and other 

 serious derangements. In all diseases, whether produced by some 

 form of external violence or intrinsic causes, the iierA^es are necessa- 

 rily involved, and sometimes it is to a primary injury of them that the 

 principal fault in movement or change of nutrition of a part is due. 



