148 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



becomes more and more marked, and finally death takes place. 

 Sometimes a cure is effected, but it is very rarely indeed. 



Treatment. — If the animal can support any portion of his 

 own weight when up, it is advisable to place him in slings. 

 Clothe the body according to the season. The patient is to 

 be carefully dieted, and may receive a purgative, to be 

 followed by nerve stimulants, as nux vomica, or its alkaloid 

 strychnia. A moderately strong embrocation may be used 

 a couple of times daily; hand-rubbing may also be of 

 benefit, but it is as a rule wasted time to treat the affection. 



Paraplegia. — This form of paralysis frequently comes 

 under the notice of the veterinarian. It is caused in a great 

 variety of ways, as by slipping, falling, jumping with a heavy 

 weight on the back, by being cast and secured for an opera- 

 tion, or anything that will cause fracture of the dorsal or 

 lumbar vertebrae, and sometimes by fracture and displace- 

 ment of any of the bones of the vertebral column by violent 

 muscular contraction on the part of an animal when secured 

 for the purpose of having an operation performed. More 

 particularly does this take place where the animal is old, 

 and anchylosis of the vertebrae exists. Anchylosis of the 

 vertebrae is to be suspected in horses with spavins, ring- 

 bones, etc. In such a case the operator is not to blame for 

 the accident. Paraplegia may also be caused by gastric 

 irritation, softening of the spinal cord, by the presence of 

 tumours pressing upon it, and also may be caused by the 

 presence of tumours or deposits of a tuberculous character. 

 The portion of the spinal column most liable to injury is that 

 formed by the lumbar and posterior portion of the dorsal ver- 

 tebrae. Where complete loss of motion is present, there may 

 for a short time afterwards be sensibility, and some slight 

 motor power of the tail may remain, but this gradually dis- 

 appears. If the paralysis be due to fracture of the anterior 

 dorsal vertebrae, there will be loss of motion in the anterior as 



