SYMPTOMS. — TREATMENT. 389 



movements. In a day or two this muscular weakness increases, 

 they reel or stagger with the hind extremities, and there is 

 danger of their falling, especially if caused to move round in a 

 limited space. They are hkewise disinclined to lie do>vn. In 

 very severe cases there is an anxious expression of countenance, 

 and partial loss of voluntary power in the fore extremities. 

 Although there is from the first, and until convalescence, im- 

 pairment of the power of voluntary movement, there is perfect 

 consciousness, no somnolence, the animal continuing to stand 

 without exhibiting any excitement or nervous disturbance 

 when handled. The appetite is unimpaired ; the bowels 

 rather confined ; urine normal, both as to amount and compo- 

 sition. 



Unless the case is advanced, or the seizure a severe one, the 

 respiration is undisturbed, while the pulse, both in volume, 

 character, and frequency, is normal ; temperature sometimes a 

 little elevated. When carefully observed in the more severe 

 cases, the animals are very indisposed to come to the ground ; 

 to prevent this they generally rest themselves with the side or 

 buttocks against the wall, or some resisting body. They do 

 not place their head against the wall, neither do they rear or 

 attempt to get into the feeding-trough with their fore-feet. 

 Muscular spasms or twitchings will occasionally develop them- 

 selves, and, in rare instances, symptoms of cerebral complica- 

 tions ; with these latter the prognosis is unfavourable. When 

 the ability to maintain the standing position is lost, and the 

 animals are laid upon the ground, muscular movement is 

 usually excessive, the limbs are moved automatically, con- 

 sciousness becomes impaired, the breathing stertorous, and 

 death not long delayed. Although these symptoms are 

 tolerably constant and uniform, they are yet subject to some 

 variations, chiefly as to their rapidity of development, or their 

 intensity in individual cases. 



Treatment. — In the management of these cases of enzootic 

 paraplegia it is ever well to remember that they are intimately 

 associated with deranged digestion ; that they owe their exist- 

 ence to the ingestion of a deleterious article of food, and that, 

 consequently, the earliest treatment which is called for is their 

 removal from those influences which seem to produce the dis- 

 ordered condition. I am satisfied that many, e^'cn when severely 



