Tl'i- 



Paralysis of the Vagus. 



the ear local treatment or surgical interference are indicated. 

 In the socalled megrims of the pigeon an attempt should be made 

 to isolate the diseased birds and carry out thorough disinfec- 

 tion. Cold water may be sprinkled on the head and calomel 

 given in doses of 0.02-0.05 g-m. 



Literature. Alexander & Tandler, A. f. Ohrenheilkunde, LXVI, 161.— 

 Baran}', Neur. Cbl., 1906, 776.— Bergniann, Fortschr. d. Yet. Hyg., 1907, 242 (Lit.). 

 — Beyer, A. f. Ohrenheilkunde, LXIY, 273. — Beyer & Lewan(lowsky, Engelmann 's 

 A. f. Phys., 1906, 451.— Dexler, Z. f. Tm., 1897, I, 124.— Klee, Geflugelkrkh., 1905, 

 32.— Zurn, D. Z. f. Tm., 1875, I, 278. 



5. Paralysis of the Vagus. 



Occurrence. Apart from paralysis of the recurrent nerve, 

 paralysis of the vagus is of very rare occurrence owing to the 

 protected position of the nerve. 



Etiology. Inflammatory processes in the vagus are some- 

 times set up by bacteria or their toxins, or the nucleus or root 

 of the nerve may become diseased owing to disease of the 

 medulla oblongata. Thomassen has adduced experimental evi- 

 dence that in the horse chronic lead poisoning causes extensive 

 paralysis of all the branches of the vagus. The various species 

 of Lathyrus appear to be capable of producing a similar con- 

 dition. 



Symptoms. Since the greater part of the pharynx and 

 esophagus are supplied with motor fibers from the vagus, diffi- 

 culty in swallowing is a prominent symptom ; there may be re- 

 gurgitation of food or it may collect in the esophagus. Paraly- 

 sis of the muscles of the larynx causes stertorous and difficult 

 breathing. The animals cannot be made to cough, but when 

 coughing occurs naturally it is deep and prolonged. If at- 

 tempts be made to make an animal cough there may be simply a 

 prolonged forcible expiration. As a result of the difficulty of 

 swallowing and loss of sensation of the mucous membrane of the 

 larynx, food may pass down the trachea and may cause death 

 by suffocation or more frequently gangrenous pneumonia. The 

 pulse is accelerated and in cases of lead poisoning it is hard. 

 There are also in all probability disturbances of the movements 

 of the stomach and intestines, but nothing definite is known at 

 the present time regarding this. 



Treatment. This is, as a rule, useless. In cases of chronic 

 lead poisoning the systematic administration of potassium iodide 

 may be tried. 



Literature. Thomassen, Monatschr. f. Psych, u. Neurologic, 1903, 423 (Lit.). 



