578 Acute luflamniatiun of the Membranes of the Spinal Cord. 



(Spinola and Trasbot). In all probability, animals suffer pain 

 without any interference from without, in that they, and espe- 

 cially dogs, often utter cries and moans, and persistently rub 

 some part of the body and even bite it until the blood comes. 

 The painfulness of the vertebral column is shown by percussing 

 the spinous processes and during passive movements. 



At this stage there are momentary spasms, fibrillar twitch- 

 ings or cramplike contractions of the muscles. These contrac- 

 tions occur principally in response to external influences, and 

 in some cases in response to the lightest contact with the skin, 

 but in others as a result of heavier blows, pressure, or attempts 

 to move the animal. In one case observed by Frohner this 

 caused a horse to rear. If the contractions of the muscles are 

 persistent and involve the muscles of the back, the back is 

 arched and the muscles are as hard as wood. Spasms of this 

 kind frequently occur in the muscles of the limbs at the same 

 time, and if the inflammation has extended to near the medulla 

 oblongata the neck muscles may be thrown into spasm. Should 

 the contractions involve the muscles of respiration and the ab- 

 dominal muscles, respiration becomes hurried and superficial, 

 the abdomen is tucked up; and there is retention of feces and 

 urine, probably owing to contraction of the sphincters of the 

 anus and bladder. In other cases, urine is passed frequently, 

 the passage being associated with pain. Now and then, pri- 

 apismus is observed in male animals. In the early stages, both 

 kinds of reflex are exaggerated in the hyperalgesic area. 



After the motor nerves have been deprived of part of their 

 conductivity, paralysis of individual muscles or groups of mus- 

 cles in the hyperalgesic area is observed, associated with re- 

 duction or complete loss of the previously exaggerated reflex 

 irritability. At the same time, or more usually at a later stage, 

 there is a reduction, but rarely a complete loss of sensibility 

 in those parts of the body that were previously painful. These 

 symptoms, as a rule, remain confined to a small area so long as 

 the spinal cord appears to be uninjured. 



Extension of the inflammation to the cord or compression 

 of the cord by the exudate is rapidly followed by extensive and 

 progressive paralysis and anesthesia of all portions of the body 

 posterior to the most anterior limit of the area involved in the 

 inflammation; in a word, there are s^^nptoms of inflammation 

 of the spinal cord. As a result of the paralysis, the gait 

 becomes uncertain and in a short time the animal can no longer 

 stand, bedsores very promptly appearing on prominent parts 

 of the body, especially in large animals. 



There is frequently elevation of temperature, and in many 

 cases the onset of the disease is marked by high fever. 



Exceptionally the course of the disease may differ from that described. There 

 may be loss of sensibility from the outset (Hutyra & Marek) or there may be 

 paralysis at once (Frohner), and especially if the cord is affected from the com- 

 mencement. 



