100 SPINAL MENINGITIS. 



large number of horses in a city, or quite a proportion 

 of those working a city railroad, are more or less 

 seriously attacked. It is mostly observed in the 

 winter and spring, and is favored by changeable 

 weather, damp or too close stables ; appears more 

 requently on horse railroad and stage lines, from 

 he frequent sudden stops, and severe strain of the 

 loins in starting It is also more common among 

 mares, from their being overworked or strained when 

 in heat. 



THE EARLIER SYMPTOMS ARE : Dullness, indisposi- 

 tion to move, head hanging low, and evident pain and 

 stiffness on moving, and especially on being turned 

 around There is more or less tenderness, and 

 shrinking on pressure on some portion of the spine 

 or along the entire spine, from the hips forward, or 

 on each side over the kidneys. The animal does 

 not stand or move firmly, but sways from side to side 

 in walking ; or is easily pushed one side, or even over, 

 when standing. Finally the back gives out, and the 

 horse falls down, or cannot rise ; he has no strength 

 in the hind legs The pulse at first is not much, or 

 but slightly increased in frequency or force, but by 

 degrees becomes more rapid. The urine is often 

 scanty or suppressed, and the dung dry, and the 

 animal has from the first a distressed, suffering look. 

 The disease is frequently fatal, in the more severe 

 cases, in two or three days, but often continues from 

 seven to ten days, and recoveries are usually quite 

 slow. 



