234 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Cause. — Sudden checking of the perspiration, violent exercise, 

 blows, and falls. 



Symptcynis. — The symptoms may vary somewhat with each case, 

 and closely resemble the first symptoms of spinal meningitis, spinal 

 tumors, and myelitis. First, some disturbance in movement, lower- 

 ing the temperature, and partial loss of sensibility posterior to the 

 seat of the congestion. If in the cervical region, it may cause inter- 

 ference in breathing and the action of the heart. "When in the region 

 of the loins, there may be loss of control of the bladder. Wlien the 

 congestion is sufficient to produce compression of the cord, paraplegia 

 may be complete. Usually fever, spasms, muscular twitching, or 

 muscular rigidity are absent, which will serve to distinguish spinal 

 congestion from spinal meningitis. 



Treatjnent. — Hot-water applications to the spine, 1-dram doses 



fluid extract of belladonna repeated every four hours, and tincture 



of aconite root 20 drops every hour until the symptoms become 



ameliorated. If no inflammatory products occur, the animal is 



likely to recover. 



SPINAL ANEMIA. 



This may be caused by extreme cold, exhausting diseases, spinal 

 embolism or plugging of a spinal blood vessel, an interference with 

 the circulation through the abdominal aorta, from compression, 

 thrombosis, or aneurism of that vessel; the spinal vessels may be 

 caused to contract through vasomotor influence, a result of periph- 

 eral irritation of some nerve. 



Spinal anemia causes paralysis of the muscles used in extending 

 the limbs. AATien the bladder is affected, it precedes the weakness 

 of motion, while in spinal congestion it follows, and increased 

 sensibility, in place of diminished sensibility, as in spinal congestion, 

 is observed. Pressure along the spine causes excessive pain. 



If the exciting cause can be removed, the animal recovers ; if this 

 fails, the spinal cord may undergo softening. 



SPINAL COMPRESSION. 



"When caused by tumors or otherwise, when pressure is slight, it 

 produces a paralysis of the muscles used in extending a limb and 

 contraction of those which flex it. When compression is great it 

 causes complete loss of sensibilty and motion posterior to the com- 

 pressed part of the cord. 



Compression of a lateral half of the cord produces motor paralysis, 

 disturbance of the circulation, and difficulty of movement, an in- 

 creased sensibility on the side corresponding to the compressed sec- 

 tion, and a diminished sensibility and some paralysis on the opposite 

 side. 



