DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD. 537 



violence, the great muscles of the thighs were violently cramped, 

 and such was the degree of pain that it became almost unman- 

 ageable. It was led home and placed in a loose box, where it 

 lay or almost fell down. For a while it seemed relieved, but 

 after a time commenced to struggle violently, and at last 

 managed to regain the standing posture. The cramp of the 

 limbs returned ; after an interval it again lay down, and when 

 first seen by me it was struggling violently, breathing heavily, 

 and groaning with pain; the pulse about ninety, and full; 

 mucous membranes injected, and the body bedewed with sweat. 

 It again struggled to its feet, passed some rather high-coloured 

 urine ; remained quiescent for a short period, and then the great 

 struggle again commenced. It was placed in slings, into which 

 it threw its weight, and gave a sigh of relief; after an interval 

 of about fifteen minutes it commenced to struggle violently, its 

 hind legs were dreadfully cramped, and we were obliged to lower 

 it down on to its bedding, when it again seemed to receive relief. 

 It was bled and a purgative with belladonna administered, the 

 loins and back were fomented with hot water, mustard applied, 

 and afterwards covered with a sheep-skin. In a while, however, 

 it commenced to struggle afresh, and we were compelled to raise 

 it by pulleys and slings. For two days and two nights it thus 

 remained, now and then free from pain, then in dreadful agony ; 

 it seemed that all movement hurt it dreadfully, every jerk and 

 start causing it to groan and to jump as it were in agony. At 

 first the muscular convulsions were confined to the posterior 

 extremities, but the fore limbs became after a time affected. 

 The poor horse seemed to dread moving its limbs, but a sudden 

 start would ensue, and all its limbs would move convulsively 

 and with great force. "VVe were compelled alternately to sling 

 and let it down, for in no posture could it obtain ease for 

 more than a few minutes at a time. On the third morning 

 the spasms left it, the bowels responded to the purgative, 

 the respirations becaime slower, but the pulse was feeble, 

 thready, and greatly accelerated, beating about 130 per minute. 

 It could now stand for some hours, but if made to move it 

 did so with great difiiculty, dragged its hind limbs, staggered, 

 and was inclined to knuckle at the fetlocks ; the off fore limb 

 was also partially paralyzed, and was moved with difficulty. 

 When last seen by me it was standing with its head over 



