DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 131 



SPINITIS SPINAL MENINGITIS. 



This is inflammation of the substance of the spinal cord, and 

 if the coverings of the cord are also affected it is known as spinal 

 meningitis. 



Causes. Anything affecting the brain may also affect the 

 cord. It may be induced by irritant properties of blood poisons, 

 exhaustion, spinal concussion, exposure, all forms of injury to 

 the spine, tumors, rheumatism, etc. 



Symptoms. In the worst form of the disease the animal shows 

 very great nervous irritation, sweating very freely, which would 

 almost lead one to suspect that it was bowel trouble. He may 

 fall to the ground, unable to rise without assistance. When upon 

 his feet, he looks at his side again suggesting a bowel trouble. 

 When lying down he struggles violently to get up, and when up 

 he makes the most frantic efforts to retain the standing position, 

 but can not. Sometimes a bone is broken in the attempt to re- 

 main standing. The animal may die in twenty-four or forty- 

 eight hours from the first appearance of the attack. In the 

 milder forms these symptoms are not so prominent. 



Treatment. This is a disease that is not very successfully 

 treated only in mild cases. When due to an injury and the back 

 is broken, have the animal killed. A purgative may be given 

 where there is any hope of recovery, and 1 dram of nitrate of 

 potassium and 4 drams of bromide of potassium may be given 

 three times a day. After the acute symptoms have passed, give 

 1 dram of nux vomica morning and night for several days. Hot 

 cloths should be applied to the spine and our Liniment well 

 rubbed in three times a day over the whole length of the spinal 



