PARALYSIS OF POSTERIOR PART OF BODY 631 



to avoid overfeeding, and especially the feeding of any substances 

 that are irritating to the kidneys. Plenty of water should be pro- 

 vided, and the sows kept in pens where they have plenty of room 

 for exercise. 



At the time of the attack the best remedy for use is veratrum 

 viride. Of a good fiuidextract of this drug 15 drops should be 

 injected beneath the skin. This will bring down the rate of the 

 pulse, relax the spasms, and prevent their recurrence more effect- 

 ively than any other agent known. For the purpose of hastening 

 elimination of toxic materials the animal should receive a large dose 

 of castor oil, and should be fed with a sloppy diet for several days. 

 Where the convulsions are severe, the action of the veratrum may 

 be aided by the administration of chloral hydrate, in teaspoonful 

 doses, well diluted with water, and given as a drench 



PARALYSIS OF POSTERIOR PART OF BODY 

 Causes. — Breaking down or paralysis of the hind parts of the 

 body is a condition which is quite commonly met with in heavy 

 hogs. There are a number of reasons advanced for this condition. 

 Some authorities believe the paralysis to be due to lack of develop- 

 ment of the bones, resulting in fracture of the thigh bones later on. 

 This lack of bone development is largely due to improper feeding, 

 especially to lack of mineral matter in the ration. Growing animals 

 require a certain amount of mineral substances in the food, in 

 order that the bones may obtain sufficient salts to properly develop. 

 Another very common cause for this breaking down of the hind 

 limbs is inflammation of the spinal cord. When the cord becomes 

 diseased at any point along its course paralysis of that portion of 

 the body located posterior to the seat of the inflammation results. 

 Inflammation of the cord is especially likely to occur in fat hogs 

 as a result of some injury to the back, such as being stepped upon 

 by cattle or horses. Pressure on the cord from tumors, or an 

 excessive deposit of fat in the region of the back, causing pressure 

 on the cord, are also possible causes for inflammation of that struc- 

 ture. In some cases parasites locate themselves in the cord and 

 form cyst-like tumors, which by pressure shut off the nervous 

 control and cause paralysis of the posterior part of the body. 



Injuries received in shipping are sometimes followed by the 



