510 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



Haemorrhage might then have occurred on the left side in and around 

 the motor tract for the hind hmb, finally leading to more and more 

 complete paralysis of the hind limb of the opposite (right) side. 

 Extending still further, it would first produce irritation, and later 

 paralysis of the motor fibres going to the fore-limb, and then of those 

 supplying the face. It is somewhat difficult to understand the partial 

 paralysis of the lips while the fore-limbs still retained their function, 

 but the difficulty does not altogether invalidate the explanation. 



Mr. Jno. A. W. Dollar's case, Veterinarian, 1895, p. 775. 



PARESIS OF THE HIND LIMBS (CHOREA). 



ig8. A two-year-old poodle, entered hospital August 22nd, 1897. 

 On the 18th August the animal's walk appeared awkward ; the hind 

 parts rolled from side to side, the hind limbs being in fact partially 

 paralysed. In addition spasms occurred about the face, ear, and 

 shoulder, and discharge from the eye and prepuce had been noted. 

 The owner did not think the dog had suffered from distemper, but the 

 existing symptoms were certainly a consequence of that disease. 



State on Examination. — The animal was thin. On clinical examina- 

 tion the most striking peculiarity was the weakness of the hind 

 quarters ; during movement the limbs partially collapsed. The 

 muscles of the head — especially the temporal muscles — and those of 

 the ear, shoulder, and forearm were the seat of very marked clonic 

 contractions. Appetite was good, but the animal had a little difficulty 

 in grasping its food. There was no cutaneous eruption, and the chief 

 functions were normal. 



Treatment. — Administration of 5 grains of potassium iodide ; hypo- 

 dermic injection of "03 grain arseniate of strychnine ; application of the 

 faradic current by means of brass wires passed under the skin of the 

 shoulder and of the base of the tail respectively. The current was 

 continued for three to five minutes. 



During the first four or five days the hypodermic injection of strych- 

 nine was followed by a period of excitement, and by slight generalised 

 contractions. At the end of a week the effects became less marked and 

 the contractions feebler. The daily dose was then increased by '004 

 grain, until a total daily dose of '045 grain was reached. In this dose 

 the action of the strychnine was always vvell marked, all the anterior 

 portion of the body showing clearly marked hyperaesthesia, and the 

 slightest touch producing excessive excitability. 



Continued for six weeks this treatment gave excellent results. The 

 paralysis of the hind quarters and the clonic contractions gradually 

 diminished. On the 20th September recovery was almost complete. 

 Slight spasms still occurred about the shoulder, but afterwards 

 entirely disappeared. 



Remark. — In the treatment of paraplegia following distemper the 

 medicines which have given the best results in my hands are potassium 

 iodide, given by the mouth, and arseniate of strychnine injected subcu- 

 taneously. Very small doses are first given, and are gradually increased 

 until the desired effect is obtained. I have also tried this treatment on 



