CHYLOUS ASCITES IN THE CAT. 



381 



rather dull, and lay curled up in its basket, but took food fairly well. 

 Swelling continued to increase, but the abdomen was not tender or 

 painful on palpation. About the end of March sw^elling had become 

 considerable, and in descending a long flight of stone steps the animal 

 overbalanced, and rolled from top to bottom. To the previous difficulty 

 in movement (probably due to enlarged abdomen) a new symptom was 

 now added : the animal seemed " weak in its hind quarters," and 

 when turning staggered considerably, but soon recovered itself ; it could 

 walk quite steadily so long as it continued in a straight direction. 



State on Examination. — Pulse about 200, small, rather wiry and 

 difficult to detect. Respirations 26. Temperature 103!° F- Nose 

 and mouth hot, dry, and offensive, tongue coated and whitish brown in 

 colour. Appetite bad, no great desire for either food or milk. General 

 condition poor, abdomen enormously distended and pendulous ; the 

 animal was " pot-bellied," and walked with the hind legs semi-flexed, 

 the abdomen almost in contact with the ground (apparently in conse- 



FiG. 37. — Chylous ascites. Showing the enormous distension of the abdomen, 

 and the falling away about the hind limbs, spinal column, and neck. 



quence of the feeling of insecurity due to inability to control movements 

 of the hind limbs). Supporting the abdomen seemed grateful to the 

 animal. The coat was dull and in process of shedding, leaving bare 

 patches, though the skin seemed normal. The vertebrae were unusually 

 prominent, the flank fallen in, the hind quarters and thighs wasted. 

 The animal weighed 10^ lbs. 



The posterior portion of the neck, the back from the dorsal to the 

 lumbar region, and the tail seemed insensitive. When pricked the 

 animal failed to respond except locally — there was slight local twitching, 

 — but if the needle were more vigorously employed it half turned its 

 head, and seemed for a moment to reflect. A second or third stimulus 

 might cause it to turn the head completely round, but it never seemed 

 sensible of the exact site of injury, or of any real pain. Sometimes it 

 licked a point adjoining that touched, sometimes one three or four 

 inches away. 



There was incomplete paraplegia of both hind limbs, difficult to 

 exactly marginate. The gait was very unsteady, the animal, especially 



