330 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



Cattle and sheep are also liable to become affected 

 through eating rye-grass; and although some seem to 

 regard these morbid states in ruminants as being similar 

 to reflex paraplegia, Mr. Robertson is rather doubtful of 

 any similarity. 



According to this authority, ' acute diseases of animals, 

 intimately associated with or resulting from dietetic causes, 

 are all, or nearly all, apparently referable to changes in con- 

 nection with the cerebral part of the system, and paraplegia 

 alone is not a diagnostic feature of them.' 



It must be remembered that ruminants seemingly have a 

 greater power of resistance against most vegetable poisons, 

 and whereas the horse, when grazing, is disposed to eat the 

 flowering stems almost entirely to the exclusion of the 

 foliage of the plants, the ox crops both foliage and seed 

 stems, and the sheep mostly keeps closely to the root foliage. 

 It is, therefore, not to be wondered at if dissimilar symptoms 

 are manifested by these animals. 



The immediate cause of the reflex paraplegia seems to be 

 due to the tonic influence of the rye-grass while the seed is 

 being matured. 



In some of the features the disease appears to bear a certain 

 resemblance to ergotism. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are gradually developed, and 

 the animal manifests deficient controlling power over the 

 voluntary muscles, especially in those of the hind extre- 

 mities. 



The weakness gradually increases, and the animal reels or 

 staggers. 



There is usually no unconsciousness, and in most instances 

 the animal continues in the standing position. 



The appetite does not generally suff'er, and though the 

 pulse is accelerated and temperature elevated in severe 

 cases, they are nevertheless, in the general way, not altered. 



