PARALYSIS. 281 



lesions. Loss of power of the facial muscles is evinced by a relaxed con- 

 dition of the angles of the mouth, by a pendulous and protruding tongue, 

 and a difficulty in gathering food, and in drinking. It will be noted that, 

 except as regards the facial muscles, the paralysis is confined to one side. 



569e. Treatment. 



Treatment has -hitherto been considered useless. But of late years 

 Electricity has yielded very good results, especially in facial paralysis and 

 in cases recovering from Paraplegia ; but it ought to be administered by 

 an expert veterinary surgeon. 



569/. Symptoms of Paraplegia. 



This form of paralysis arises from affection of the spinal cord. Affec- 

 tion of the spinal cord is indicated by loss of power transversely. It 

 generally affects both hind quarters. It may appear suddenly or may 

 come on gradually (see below). The characteristic symptoms are a 

 reeling staggering gait, and inability to turn abruptly or to go back. 



569</. Causes of Paraplegia. 



There are two distinct causes of this affection. 



1st. Injuries to the spinal column, such as fracture of the vertebrae, 

 disease of the bones of the vertebrae, the formation of an exostosis, or a 

 severe sprain. Such cases are not worth treatment. 



2nd. The affection may arise from a disordered condition or actual 

 disease of the respiratory, digestive, or urinary organs, or from irritation 

 of the nerves of the spine arising from cold or wet, by which irritating 

 influences are applied to the terminal extremities of the nerves, and by 

 this means the impression is conveyed to the spinal cord. This form is 

 called reflex paraplegia. These cases are in some degree amenable to 

 treatment. 



5697*. Treatment. 



The symptoms, as described above, are the same, whether the affection 

 arises from positive injury to the spinal column, or whether it arises from 

 irritation of the terminal extremities of the nerves of the spinal cord. 



The reader will naturally ask how to distinguish between cases arising 

 from direct injury to the spinal column, which are not worth treatment, 

 and those arising from diseases more or less connected with the nerves 

 radiating from the spinal column. 



The answer to this inquiry is not very satisfactory. If however the 

 horse has sustained an injury, there will of course be reason to fear that 

 the symptoms arise directly from affection of the spinal column. If no 

 such injury is known to have occurred, it is reasonable to hope that the 

 symptom arises from causes only indirectly affecting the spinal cord. 



The treatment is the same in either case. The result of the treatment 



