382 AZOTURIA. 



allow a little stimulant, as sweet spirits of nitre, or some of the 

 common preparations of alcohol ; even when prostrate a con- 

 tinuance of this is often productive of good. 



When incapacity to rise continues after the tliird day, and 

 the appetite is not entirely absent, it will be advisable to 

 attempt to raise the animal, either by placing slings under the 

 body or other appropriate means. At this stage also the 

 employment of friction to the muscles of the limbs with soap 

 liniment, continued at intervals, is deserving of trial. 



In the greater number of instances which are not of the 

 worst type, and which do not terminate fatally in a short time, 

 recovery or distinct s3rmptoms of amendment are likely to 

 follow the action of the purgative. During convalescence 

 much care is always needed — first to prevent overloading and 

 disturbance of the digestive organs ; and second, by the 

 judicious use of medicine to restore tone and healthy action to 

 the entire system. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Paraplegia Enzootica — Enzootic Paraplegia — Grass 

 Staggers. 



Definition. — A (jeneral or systemic disorder appearing as an 

 enzooty amongst horses fed. largely on ray or rye grass at a 

 particular period of its growth, and characterized hy much 

 disturbance of innervation, p)articidarly hy impairment or loss 

 of motor, and more rarely of sensory, power of the posterior 

 extremities. 



Pathology, a. General Characters and Relations to some 

 other Affections. — Many diseased conditions, both in horses and 

 other animals, have received the name of staggers, probably from 

 the fact that the most distinguishing feature of these several 

 affections is disturbed motor-power in certam muscles, or sets 

 of muscles. This want of ability to regulate movement through 

 defective muscular action may in a general way be said to 

 proceed either from direct and primary disease of nerve-centres, 

 or from disease or disturbance of these centres, originating not 



