no RHEUMATISM. 



Palsy in the horse generally attacks th£ hind extremities. The reason of this is 

 plain. The fore limbs are attached to the trunk by a dense mass of highly elastic 

 substance. This was placed between the shoulder-blade and the ribs for the purpose 

 of preventing- that concussion, which would be annoying and even dangerous to the 

 horse or his rider. Except in consequence of a fall, there is scarcely the possibility 

 of any serious injury to the anterior portion of the spine. The case is very different 

 with regard to the hind limbs and their attachment to the trunk; they are necessa- 

 rily liable to many a shock and sprain injurious to the spine and its contents. The 

 loins and the back oftcnest exhibit the lesions of palsy, because there are some of 

 the most violent muscular efforts, and there is the greatest movement and the least 

 support. It may consequently be taken as an axiom to guide the judgment of the 

 practitioner that palsy in the horse almost invariably proceeds from disease or injury 

 of the spine. 



On inquiry it is almost invariably found that the horse had lately fallen, or had 

 been worked exceedingly hard, or that, covered with perspiration, he had been left 

 exposed to cold and wet. It commences generally in one hind leg, or perhaps both 

 are equally affected. The animal can scarcely walk — he walks on his fetlocks 

 instead of his soles — he staggers at every motion. At length he falls. He is raised 

 with difficulty, or he never rises again. The sensibility of the part seems for a while 

 to be dreadfully increased ; but, in general, this gradually subsides — it sinks below 

 the usual standard — it ceases altogether. 



If he is examined after death, there will usually, about the region of the loins, be 

 inflammation of the membranes of the spinal cord, or of the cord itself. The medul- 

 lary matter will be found of a yellow colour, or injected with spots of blood, or it will 

 be softened, and have become semifluid. 



Tlie treatment is simple enough. It should commence with bleeding, and, as has 

 been already recommended in inflammatory cases, until the circulation is evidently 

 affected — until the pulse begins to falter or the horse to reel. To this should follow 

 a dose of physic — strong compared with the size of the animal. The loins should be 

 covered with a mustard poultice frequently renewed. The patient should be warmly 

 clothed, supplied plentifully with mashes, but without a grain of corn in them ; and 

 frequent injections should be had recourse to. This will soon render it evident 

 whether the patient will recover or die. If favourable symptoms appear, the horse 

 must not be in the slightest degree neglected, nor the medical treatment suspended. 

 There is no disease in which the animal is more liable to a relapse, or where a relapse 

 would be so fatal. No misapprehension of the disease, or false humanity, should 

 induce the attendant to give the smallest quantity of corn or of tonic medicine. 

 Palsy in the horse is an inflammatory complaint, or the result of inflammation. 



If the heat and tenderness are abating, and the animal regains, to a slight degree, 

 the use of his limbs, or if it is becoming a case of chronic palsy, an extensive^and 

 stimulating charge over the loins should be immediately applied." It will accomplish 

 three purposes : there will be the principle of counter-irritation — a defence against the 

 cold — and a useful support of the limbs. 



RHEUMATISM. 



It is only of late years that this has been admitted into the list of the diseases of 

 the horse, although it is in truth a very common affection. It is frequent in old 

 horses that have been early abused, and among younger ones whose powers have 

 been severely taxed. The lameness is frequently excessive, and the pain is evidently 

 excruciating. The animal dares not to rest the sliohtest portion of its weioht on the, 

 limb, or even to toucli tbe groimd with his toe. He is heaving at the flanks, sweat- 

 ing profusely, his countenance plainly indicative of the agony he feels; but there is 

 at first no heat, or swelling, or tenderness. With proper treatment, the pain and the 

 lameness gradually disappear ; but in other instances the fascia; of the muscles 

 become thickened — the ligaments are also thickened and rigid — the capsules of the 

 joint are loaded M-ith a glairy fluid, and the joint is evidently enlaroed. This is 

 simply rheumatism; but if it is neglected, palsy soon associates itself with, or suc- 

 ceeds to, the complaint; and the loss of nervous power follows the diflSculty or pain 

 of moving. 



