DISEASES OF HORSES 403 



we may find cancers, and fibromata; and aneurisms of the spinal 

 arteries have been discovered in the spinal canal. 



Symptoms. Tumors of the spinal canal cause symptoms of 

 spinal irritation or compression of the cord. The gradual and slow 

 development of symptoms of paralysis of one or both hind limbs or 

 certain muscles may lead to a suspicion of spinal tumors. The 

 paralysis induced is progressive, but not usually marked with atro- 

 phy of the muscles or increased sensibility along the spine. When 

 the tumor is within the spinal cord itself all the symptoms of myeli- 

 tis may be present. 



Treatment. General tonics and 1-dram doses of nux vomica 

 may be given ; iodide of iron or iodide of potassa in 1-dram doses, 

 three times a day in feed, may, in a very few cases, give some tem- 

 porary benefit. Usually the disease progresses steadily until it proves 

 fatal. 



NEURITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OP A NERVE. 



This is caused by a bruise or wound of a nerve or by strangu- 

 lation in a ligature when the nerve is included in the ligation of an 

 artery. The changes in an inflamed nerve are an enlargement, red- 

 dening of the nerve sheath, spote of extravasated blood, and some- 

 times an infiltration of serum mixed with pus. The symptoms are 

 acute pain of the parts supplied by the nerve and absence of swelling 

 or increased heat of the part. Hypodermic injections of from 3 to. 

 5 grains of morphia to relieve pain, hot fomentations, and rest, are 

 the treatment. If it is due to an inclusion of a ligature, the nerve 

 should be divided above and below the ligature. 



NEUROMA, OR TUMOR OF A NERVE. 



Neuroma may be from enlargement of the end of a divided 

 nerve or due to fibrous degeneration of a nerve which has been 

 bruised or wounded. Its most frequent occurrence is found after 

 the operation of neurotomy for foot lameness, and it may appear 

 after the lapse of months, or even years. Neuroma usually develops 

 within the sheath of the nerve with or without implicating the nerve 

 fibers. It is oval, running lengthwise with the direction of the 

 nerve. The symptoms are pain of the affected limb or part, which is 

 manifested more especially after resting a while, and when pressure is 

 made upon the tumor it cantos extreme suffering. The treatment 

 is excision of the tumor, including part of the nerve above and be- 

 low, and then treat it like any other simple wound. 



INJURIES TO NERVES. 



These may consist in wounding, bruising, laceration, stretching, 

 compression, etc. The symptoms which are produced will depend 

 upon the extent, seat, and character of the injury. Recovery may 

 quickly take place, or it may lead to neuritis, neuroma, or spinal or 

 cerebral irritation, which may result in tetanus, paralysis, and other 

 serious derangements. In all diseases, whether produced by some 

 form of external violence or intrinsic causes, the nerves are neces- 

 sarily involved, and sometimes it is to a primary injury of them that 

 the principal fault in movement or change of nutrition of a part is 

 due. It is often difficult or impossible to discover that an injury to 



