400 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



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. 



Treatment. Bags filled with ice should be applied along the 

 spine, to be followed later on by strong blisters. The fever should be 

 controlled as early as possible by giving 20 drops of Norwood's tinc- 

 ture of veratrum viride every hour until the desired result is ob- 

 tained. One dram of the fluid extract of belladonna, to control pain 

 and vascular 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 very intense 5 grains of sulphate of morphia 

 should be injected hypodermically. The animal must be kept as 

 free from excitement 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 apt 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 sys- 

 tem and stimulation of the nervous functions. To induce absorp- 

 tion, iodide of potassa in 2-dram doses may be given, dissolved in the 

 drinking water, twice a day. To strengthen the system, iodide of 

 iron 1 dram twice a day and 1 dram of nux vomica once a day may 

 be given in the feed. Electricity to the paralyzed and weakened mus- 

 cles is advisable; the current should be weak, but be continued for 

 half an hour two or three times daily. If the disease is due to a 

 broken back, caries of the vertebrae, or some other irremediable 

 cause, the animal should be destroyed at once. 



MYELITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE 

 SPINAL CORD. 



This is a rare disease, except as a secondary result of spinal 

 meningitis or injuries to the spine. Poisoning by lead, arsenic, mer- 

 cury, phosphorus, carbonic-acid gas, etc., has been known to produce 

 it. Myelitis may be confined to a small spot in the cord or may in- 

 volve the whole for a variable distance. It may lead to softening, 

 abscess, or degeneration. 



Symptoms. The attack may begin with a chill or convulsions; 

 the muscles twitch or become cramped very early in the disease, and 

 the bladder usually is affected at the outset, in which there may be 

 either retention or incontinence of urine. These conditions are fol- 

 lowed by complete or partial paralysis of the muscles posterior to the 

 locality of the inflamed cord, and the muscles begin to waste away 

 rapidly. The paralyzed limb becomes cold and dry, due to the sus- 

 pension of proper circulation; the joints may swell and become 

 edematous; vesicular eruptions appear on the skin; and frequently 

 gangrenous sloughs form on the paralyzed parts. It is exceedingly 

 seldom that recovery takes place. In a few instances it may assume 

 a chronic type, when all the symptoms become mitigated, and thus 

 continue for some time, until septicemia or exhaustion causes death. 



