202 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



going part of this lecture, that section or compression of the 

 spinal marrow paralyzed muscles, and that irritation of it con- 

 vulsed them. Now, we know that many cases of broken back 

 terminate in palsy ; and, if this be true, why should not others 

 be productive of springhalt — since the one arises from compres- 

 sion, while the other is merely the result of irritation ? It is not, 

 however, necessary that a broken back be present ; for any other 

 cause of irritation, we apprehend, would induce this disease. 

 Horses are very subject to injuries of the loins — much more so 

 than we seem to be aware of — from being suddenly stopped or 

 turned, or from being overweighted about those parts ; accidents 

 that are but too seldom detected, since they may not be severe 

 enough to constitute broken back, though they may so far disturb 

 the nervous functions as to cause springhalt. Should the injury, 

 or the consequences of it, be confined to one side, then only one 

 column of the marrow will be affected, and but one leg con- 

 vulsed : the nature and extent of disease in it will perhaps de- 

 termine the degree of springhalt. 



"Such is our theory of a disease whose nature, we believe, has 

 up to this time remained unexplained ; whether we have taken 

 a correct view of it, experiment and special attention to these 

 cases in future can alone decide. "We have long had it in con- 

 templation to attempt to induce springhalt by artificial means ; 

 and we intend, as soon as an opportunity presents itself, to insti- 

 tute some experiments for this purpose. 



" We so seldom know any thing of the origin and progress of 

 these cases, and, even if we did, they have generally endured so 

 long, that it would be labor lost to treat them. Should, however, 

 a recent case present itself, in a horse of value enough to render 

 his recovery an object of consideration, we may pursue such 

 means as have been recommended in the equally hopeless one 

 of broken back." 



Regarding the Treatment. — It will be proper, when the attack 

 is sudden, to let the horse rest ; for, in a sudden attack, we might 

 naturally suspect that some injury, either by blow or strain, had 

 been done to the nerves of voluntary motion : in that case, cold 

 water bandages, (around the body,) rest, light diet, nauseating 

 medicines, with an occasional light dose of cathartic medicine, to 



