INFLAMMATIOX OF THE SPINAL CORD AXD MEMBRANES 243 



sion, coma and hlindnoss, and frecjucntly every sign of rabies is present. 



Progressive Paralysis of the Medulla Oblongata. — This is called in 

 man a progressive atrophy of the medulla oblongata. This condition 

 presents partial paralysis of the tongue, of deglutition, of the larynx, 

 of the lips. It is extremely doubtful if this condition does, per se, occur 

 in the dog, it being due to some other condition being present in the 

 brain. Hutyra and Marek have, however, seen a number of cases of 

 acute paralysis of the medulla, particularly paralysis of deglutition and 

 paralysis of the tongue (see further under that head). 



Cerebro -spinal Meningitis (Meningitis Cerebro -spinalis). Etiology. — 

 Nothing is definitely known of the causes of this disease. It is extremely 

 rare in the dog. Renner and Kempen have made several observations 

 on the subject, and the writer had one case of his own. 



The anatomical foundation of the disease seems to be an acute 

 suppurating inflammation of the brain and spinal membranes, a purulent 

 exudation in the arachnoid, especially on the hemispheres and the base 

 of the brain, which is infiltrated by a quantity of serous fluid. The same 

 condition is also found in the spine. 



The symptoms are disturbances of the sensory nerves, in some 

 cases the animal becoming unconscious. There were loss of appetite, 

 fever, and after a few days a marked unsteadiness of the gait, beginning 

 with a slow, dragging walk, and difficulty of deglutition, becoming com- 

 plicated with tonic convulsions which finally became epileptic, staggering 

 gait, convulsive movements of the muscles of the neck, opisthotonos, and 

 lastly stupor, coma, and death. 



The treatment consists in the administration of sedatives such as 

 chloral hydrate, sulphonal or hedonal. 



DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD AND ITS MEMBRANES. 



Inflammation of the Spinal Cord and Its Membranes. 



{Myelitis and Spinal Meningitis.) 



Etiology. — A common cause of myelitis and spinal meningitis is trau- 

 matisms of some kind causing direct injuries to the spine, such as violent 

 blows, shocks to the vertebral column by falling out of a window, etc., 

 and further by concussions of the spinal cord, such as being struck by an 

 automobile or wagon. Violent muscular exertions frequently produce 

 this condition. In very rare instances, the disease may follow the pres- 

 ence of an abscess on the outside of the spinal canal, liy extension of the 

 suppurating process through an orifice of the vertebra, and occasionally 



