232 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



SPINAL MENINGITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE MEMBRANES 

 ENVELOPING THE SPINAL CORD. 



This may be induced by the irritant properties of blood poisons, 

 exhaustion and exposure, spinal concussion, all forms of injury to 

 the spine, tumors, caries of the vertebrae, rheumatism, etc. 



Sympt&ins. — A chill may be the precursor, a rise in temperature, 

 or a general weakness and shifting of the legs. Soon a painful, con- 

 "VTilsive twitching of the muscles sets in, followed by muscular rigid- 

 ity along the spine, in which condition the animal will move very 

 stiiSy and evince great pain in turning. Evidences of paralysis or 

 paraplegia develop, retention or incontinence of urine, and often- 

 times sexual excitement is present. The presence of marked fever at 

 the beginning of the attack, associated with spinal symptoms, should 

 lead us to suspect spinal meningitis or myelitis. These two condi- 

 tions usually appear together, or m^'elitis follows inflammation of the 

 meninges so closely that it is almost impossible to separate the two ; 

 practically it does not matter much, for the treatment will be about 

 the same in both cases. Spinal meningitis generally becomes chronic, 

 and is then marked principally by paralysis of that portion, or parts 

 of it, posterior to the seat of the disease. 



Pathology. — In spinal meningitis we find essentially the same con- 

 dition as in cerebral meningitis; there is an effusion of serum be- 

 tween the membranes, and often a plastic exudation firmly adherent 

 to the pia mater serves to maintain a state of paralysis for a long time 

 after the acute symptoms have disappeared by compressing the cord. 

 Finally, atrophy, softening, and even abscess may develop within the 

 cord. Unlike in man, it is usually found localized in horses. 



Treatment. — Bags filled with ice should be applied along the spine, 

 to be followed later by strong blisters. The fever should be con- 

 trolled as early as possible by giving 20 drops of Norwood's tincture 

 of veratrum viride every hour until the desired result is obtained. 

 One dram of the fluid extract of belladonna, to control pain and vas- 

 cular excitement of the spinal cord, may be given every five or six 

 hours until the pupils of the eyes become pretty well dilated. If the 

 pain is ver^^ intense 5 grains of sulphate of morphia should be in- 

 jected hypodermically. The animal must be kept as free from excite- 

 ment as possible. If the urine is retained in the bladder it must be 

 drawn off every four or six hours. In very acute attacks the disease 

 generally proves fatal in a few days. If, however, the animal grows 

 better, some form of paralysis is liable to remain for a long time, and 

 the treatment will have to be directed then toward a removal of the 

 exudative products and a strengthening of the system and stimula- 

 tion of the nervous functions. To induce absorption, iodid of potas- 

 sium in 2-dram doses, dissolved in the drinking water, may be given 



