SPINITIS. 147 



pure water, gentle exercise when able to bear it, frequent 

 grooming, and no attention which can be bestowed upon 

 the animal should be withheld. Spinitis sometimes termi- 

 nates in some form or other of paralysis, for symptoms, 

 treatment, etc., of which see 'Paralysis.' 



PARALYSIS. 



Definition. — Loss of voluntary motion, either with or 

 without loss of sensation. It usually comes on suddenly, 

 hence has been described as a ' stroke,' but occasionally 

 it comes on slowly. It may be divided into two classes, 

 ' perfect ' and ' imperfect,' the first named causing death 

 very quickly. It may again be described as 'general,' 

 and ' partial,' or what perhaps would be better, as complete 

 and partial. It is further subdivided into 'hemiplegia,' 

 paralysis of one side of the body, common in man but rare 

 in animals, and 'paraplegia,' paralysis of the posterior half of 

 the body. This is the form usually seen in animals. Again 

 it is described as ' local,' that is, where paralysis of 

 a muscle, or two or three muscles, occurs, a very good 

 example being paralysis of the muscles of the lips. Eeflex 

 paralysis is where paralysis is caused by irritation existing 

 at the peripheral portions of the nerves, a very good 

 example being the paralysis due to gastric irritation, and so 

 frequently following gastritis. Pressure on the spinal cord 

 causes paralysis of all the parts posterior to the injury. 



Hemiplegia. — This form of paralysis is of very rare 

 occurrence amongst the lower animals, and results from some 

 disease of the brain, as sunstroke, or an injury, as concussion 

 caused by a blow, fall, etc. It is often associated with 

 cerebral tumours. 



Symptoms. — AVhen down the animal cannot rise, motor- 

 power, and sometimes sensation of one half of the body being 

 lost. The coat becomes staring, dry, and dusty; debility 



10—2 



