696 Inflammation of the Spinal Cord. 



myelitis and ossifying myelitis lias already been dealt with 

 (see pages 679 and 684). — In cases of tramnatism of the spinal 

 cord, there is in most cases some evidence of the mechanical 

 interference. Symptoms appear suddenly, and there is often 

 evidence of pain in a circumscribed portion of the spine, dis- 

 tortion and crepitation. — Compression of the cord is usually 

 characterized by a slowly progressive paralysis associated with 

 active contraction of the muscles; sensation persists for a 

 longer time, and is not destroyed in the majority of cases even 

 in the later stages. There may be pain and distortion of the 

 spine in the late stages. There is great difficulty in ex- 

 cluding cases of compression of the cord in which the symptoms 

 of paralysis are actually or apparently produced suddenly, or 

 in which there is neither pain nor distortion. Eecognizable cir- 

 cumscribed atrophy of the muscles, the repeated appearance of 

 these or similar s^^nptoms, stiffness of the paralyzed muscles, 

 and a disappearance of the paralysis in the later stages contra- 

 indicate inflammation of the spinal cord. In the dog, compres- 

 sion of the cord is the most commonly observed disease of that 

 structure, — Diseases of a general nature associated with pro- 

 nounced muscular weakness are still often confounded with 

 myelitis. There is a special tendency for the hind quarters to 

 appear weak in certain diseases of the intestine or peritoneum 

 that are associated with pain in the smaller animals and these 

 symptoms are often said to be due to disease of the spinal 

 cord without further investigation. In these cases, disease of 

 the cord can generally be excluded if the sensibility of the skin 

 and the reflexes are investigated, defecation and micturition are 

 carefully observed, and a thorough examination of the other 

 organs is made. 



Treatment. Bedsores are avoided by the provision of a 

 soft bed and the frequent turning of the animal. Frequent 

 grooming prevents the development of dermatitis. If there 

 is retention of the urine and feces, the bladder may be evacu- 

 ated by pressure with the flat of the hand, or by the use of the 

 catheter, and the feces may be removed manually. 



Internally, potassium iodide in doses of ten to twenty and 

 1 to 2 gm. is administered in most cases, but no special results 

 follow its use. If muscular atrophy should threaten or be ac- 

 tually present, attempts should be made to check it by passive 

 movements of the paralyzed limbs and massage. This treat- 

 ment promises best in cases of supranuclear paralysis. It is 

 absolutelv useless to administer nerve stimulants such as strvch- 

 nine (0.05 to 0.10 gm. or 0.001 to 0.003 gm.), veratrin (0.05 to 

 0.20 gin. or 0.01 to 0.02 gin.) subcutaneously, arsenic (liquor 

 arsenicalis 10 to 15 gm. or 2 to 5 drops daily per os). Many 

 authors have recorded rapid improvements following the sub- 

 cutaneous injection of eserine, pilocarpine or arecoline in dogs. 

 It is possible that in such cases the pressure on the spinal cord 



