INJURIES TO THE VERTEBRAE. 



725 



this time the hope of recovery should not be abandoned. In many 

 cases, therefore, the diagnosis must be extremely cautious, and an 

 expectant attitude should be assumed. It should be borne in mind 

 that concussion of this kind is rare in the horse, but fairly frequent 

 in small animals like dogs and cats. 



Schmaus's observations and experiments show that in concussion 

 of the cord, bleeding, softening, swelling, and degeneration of single 

 axis-cylinders occur. It is evident that the course of such injuries 



Fig. 449. — Bernardot and Butel's apparatus for prevention of broken back when 



casting. 



depends on the kind and extent of the anatomical changes ; and 

 as these cannot be exactly defined during life, prognosis is always 

 doubtful. 



In spinal fracture the last hope of recovery vanishes as soon as 

 paraplegia is complete. Provided the animals can stand, treatment 

 may be attempted, although, as paraplegia may still occur, recovery 

 is uncertain ; Korber saw it set in as late as five days after injury. 

 As, however, the diagnosis in such cases can never be perfectly certain, 

 it is advisable to wait, particularly if the animal's slaughter value 

 js slight, or if it be valuable for breeding. Isolated cases are said 



