50 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



may show themselves in azoturia, without the spine being injured. 

 An animal sometimes loses power, and is unable to rise, but can, in i 

 exceptional cases, move the tail for some time after the other parts 

 are motionless, and there may be some feeling in the tail also. If it i 

 is due to fracture, you may have the animal destroyed if it is com- " 

 plete ; but if only partial, you may treat. , 



Treatment — It is good practice to place in slings, if there is diffi- ! 

 culty in getting up, but can still bear a certain amount of his weight « 

 upon his legs, for a horse will not live long if he does not support : 

 some of his weight upon his legs. If in the early stages, and you sus- ; 

 pect congestion, try belladonna and ergot of rye. Ergot twelve ■ 

 drachms daily, atropine two grains daily. Use belladonna internally ' 

 and externally, and stimulate the loins with some mild stimulant, and i 

 do not feed very high ; and when you think but little or no irritation ; 

 remains, use a nerve stimulant, two to four grains of strychnine daily, ; 

 or nux vomica one or two drachms, daily, also stimulate the loins • 

 with a stimulating liniment, or even blister. A newly-fiayed sheep- ; 

 skin has been recommended, and you will find benefit from iodide of ; 

 potassium and bromide of potassium, in pretty large doses. I i 

 prefer the bromide. If the animal is in poor condition, you may feed 

 pretty well and try tonics, but if it is a case of three or four months' ( 

 standing, there is but little hope of recovery. Electricity is of use in J 

 paralysis. Extremes of heat and cold have no doubt something to do \ 

 with paralysis in horses, especially in stallions, but not so much as i 

 nervous excitement. 1 



Paralysis of the Lips is common in the horse ; may occur in any j 

 animal. * The nerve is implicated. It may occur in various ways — j 

 from injury to the brain, irritating the origin of the nerve, and caus- | 

 ing it. Such a case is generally incurable. A heavy head-stall may i 

 produce it, by interfering with the flow of blood to some extent, or j 

 pulling violently upon the bridle ; injury of any sort may produce it, j 

 exciting himself in the stall, exposure to extreme cold is a common j 

 cause. The nerve is very much exposed, and cold irritates it. j 



Symptoms. — Hanging of the lip ; in a majority of cases it is confined ! 

 to one side, the other side drawn up to some extent, difficulty of pre- j 

 hension, in drinking he will place the mouth deep into the bucket, j 

 The lip hangs in almost one condition ; similar to purpura, but there 1 

 is no swelling in paralysis. Examine closely into the case as to the | 

 head-stall, etc. I 



Treatment. — Remove the exciting cause and foment, especially if j 

 from exposure to cold, and use a mild stimulant, such as the cam- 

 phorated liniment. If the case becomes obstinate, give laxative ' 

 medicine, and follow with bromide of potassium. Although it is due ', 

 to local influence, treat internally. Try the effect of a slight blister. ; 

 If it is due first to irritation of the nerve, use one part of biniodide of ' 

 mercury to eight of lard. If it is due to any brain trouble, there is ; 

 not much hope of recovery. i 



Hydrocephiiiiis, or Water in the Brain.— It is generally congeni- ] 

 tal in the lower animals, and it is rare that the animal lives for any ; 

 great length of time, but human subjects do live. If much water is 1 

 present, it interferes with the brain to a considerable extent. I 



Symptoms. — It is associated with tubercular influences. Well-bred ] 

 cattle especially suffer from tubercular deposits. Water accumulated \ 

 perhaps in connection with the archnoid, and although it is a fluid, it ] 

 acts upon the soft sutures, which yield rapidly to a liquid. The head \ 

 attains an enormous size in some cases. It is gradual in progression, \ 



