52 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



eral (one side), transverse (before or behind), and loeal. 

 Traseverse paralysis, on account of its intimate relation 

 to the spinal cord, is often called ' spinal paralysis/ (Rob- 

 ertson.) 



Paralysis is caused by falls or blows, fractures or inju- 

 ries, especially of the spine; overwork, blood poisoning, 

 grass staggers, the use of the vetch known as ' lathyrus 

 sativus/ &c. When horses are quartered in low, wet, cold 

 pastures, especially where there is stagnant water and cold 

 air currents, the disorder is liable to become epizootic. 

 The attack is usually sudden. The hind legs are very 

 susceptible to the disorder. It often affects first one leg 

 and then the other. The sense of feeling as well as mo- 

 tion may be lost, which may be detected by pricks, pinches, 

 or blows. 



Symptoms — If of hind quarters, horse down, strug- 

 gling with fore feet to get up ; in extreme cases the rec- 

 tum and bladder are also paralyzed; evacuations may be 

 retained, but oftener pass involuntarily; when retained, 

 remove artificially. 



In complete paralysis of side, horse down on affected 

 side ; in incomplete, can stand and even drag itself along ; 

 head, neck, loins, and hind quarters incline to one side ; 

 affected eye sunken ; ear lops ; lips pendulous and drawn 

 aside ; drinking and mastication difficult. 



In paralysis of head, the face is distorted ; corners of 

 mouth drawn upward ; mastication impracticable ; sight 

 affected, but eyes retain power of motion. The disease 

 called glass eye may follow paralysis of the head. 



Remedy. — Rest, quiet. Light, digestible food. Salines, 

 tonics. Friction, blisters, electricity, impart nervous and 

 muscular tone. Potassium iodide and salines if dependent 

 on pressure from fluid. Trephine and raise bone if from 

 depression of cranial bones. Remove any gastric, uterine, 

 or other local irritation, or blood contamination. Nux 

 vomica and strychnine stimulate motor centers and nerves. 



