392 DISLOCATION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE. 



immediately any attempt was made to raise the head. After standing 

 quietly in the stable until September 8th, it was moved, rapidly became 

 worse, and in consequence was killed. An ox thrown down whilst 

 struggling with another could still run ; on being placed in a stall, however, 

 it soon became paralysed, and the second cervical vertebra was found, 

 on post-mortem, to be broken into four pieces. 



Kohne records fracture of both wings of the atlas in a horse which had 

 fallen. On the following day it showed difficulty in breathing, rolling gait, 

 and marked stiffness of the neck, muscular twitchings and great pain on 

 moving the latter. These symptoms continued ; and having fallen on the 

 twenty-second day, the horse was unable to rise again, and died three 

 days later. Post-mortem showed callus formation on the broken wings 

 and inflammation of the meninges of the medulla oblongata. A cow 

 whose horns had become fast in an iron rack was found unable to 

 stand, to move the head, or to eat. Post-mortem discovered fracture 

 of the second cervical vertebra, and bleeding into the vertebral canal. 



In one year the following vertebral fractures were noted amongst 

 the Prussian army horses : — Thirty cervical fractures, six dorsal, and 

 seven lumbar. 



In man, injuries to the spinal cord are generally accompanied 

 by abnormal rise in temperature, reaching 43 to 44 centigrade ; but 

 in animals no observations are available on this point. 



The course of the disease is similar to that in man, although 

 in him death occurs somewhat later, because the medulla oblongata 

 or the spinal cord is not so often injured. Displacement of the 

 pieces of bone, bleeding into the spinal canal, or inflammatory 

 processes generally disturb the function of the spinal cord later, 

 and bring about death. Any cervical fracture which involves the 

 phrenic nerves may be followed by fatal asphyxia from paralysis of 

 the diaphragm. If the fracture is confined to one or another of the 

 vertebral processes, the animal may recover. 



Treatment of fracture of the body of a vertebra is usually im- 

 possible, because death is almost immediate. Otherwise, especially 

 in animals worthless for slaughter, it is of the first importance to 

 prevent displacement of the broken fragments. Where such a 

 fracture, or one affecting any of the processes, is believed to exist, 

 the animal is placed in a condition of absolute rest, and measures 

 adopted to prevent, as far as possible, all movements of the head 

 and neck. If soft parts are injured, antiseptic methods must be 

 employed to prevent pus formation, necrosis and spread of 

 inflammatory processes. 



Complete displacement of the cervical vertebrae, said to occur 

 in the horse, may here be mentioned. As it usually causes immediate 

 death, there is seldom opportunity for a precise diagnosis. Con- 

 ditions described as luxations of the vertebras have doubtless often 



