280 CHAPTER 33A. 



a Nerve tonic or restorative, more especially in Paralysis. It is also a 

 stimulus to muscles exhausted by excessive fatigue. 



It has given permanent results in cases of paralysis of the lower lip, 

 arising from injury or head-gear pressure. 



"But the general use of Electricity in Paralysis has not yet been suffi- 

 ciently tested to enable the Author to give any special recommendation 

 in its favour. Still it is probable that in the progress of science much 

 may at no very distant date be hoped from it in the treatment of this 

 disease. Medical authorities tell us that it is an almost certain aid to 

 diagnosis of the exact seat of Paralysis. 



Extreme care is needed in its use, which should only be allowed in the 

 hands of an expert professional man, as serious injury may result from 

 its improper or incautious use. 



569ft. Nature of Paralysis. 



Paralysis can scarcely be described as a disease, for it is in reality 

 only a symptom of certain lesions affecting the nervous system result- 

 ing in loss of motion or in loss of sensation, or both in the part affected. 



In the human subject the medical man endeavours to save life, and is 

 often pleased if he can restore his patient to even partial use of his limb, 

 or to power of sensation. The horse, however, is no use to his owner 

 unless he can be restored to full bodily vigor. Hence severe cases of 

 paralysis are seldom treated. 



569Z>. Classes of paralysis. 



As regards the horse, paralysis may be divided into three classes, 

 namely : 



1st. Where the paralysis arises from disease of a portion of the brain. 

 This is technically termed hemiplegia. 



2nd. Where it arises from affection of the spinal cord, it is technically 

 termed paraplegia. 



3rd. Local paralysis. 



569c. Causes of Hemiplegia. 



Cerebral congestion, effusion on, or other morbid conditions of the 

 brain are the usual causes. 



569 d. Symptoms of Hemiplegia. 



Hemiplegia is indicated by loss of power over one half of the body 

 laterally, i. e. the affection is confined to one side of the animal, except as 

 regards the facial muscles. 



The muscles are paralysed on the opposite side to which the brain 

 lesions exist. Owing to the paralysed condition of the muscles of the 

 neck and trunk on the opposite side, the animal, when made to move, 

 leans over to the side on which the lesions exist. 



But the muscles of the face are affected on the same side as the brain 



