230 Diseases of the Nervous System. 



suspected. The presence of acute fever, constipation. 

 &c., will, however, lead to the opposite conclusion. 

 There may be paralysis, more or less, of the ears, eyelids, 

 or lips, or the members on one side of the face only are 

 slightly affected. When the disease attacks the medulla 

 oblongata, that portion of the spinal cord which issues 

 from the brain, the breathing becomes stertorous or 

 snoring, and probably the eyes are staring. Uneasiness 

 prevails ; the animal often moves in a circle, indicating 

 great want of controlling power, with the tendency to fall. 

 Portions of the skin are already quite insensible, and the 

 loss of feeling is rapidly extending to other parts. In a 

 few hours the power of standing is lost, and he falls, the 

 remaining hours or days of life to be spent in continued 

 struggles, in which violent injuries are inflicted. 



Treatment is rarely of use when the animal has fallen 

 to the ground. Slinging is then more likely to do harm 

 than good, as congestion of the lungs speedily develops. 

 When the case is seen in the early stages of acute fever, 

 bloodletting may be practised under great caution. 

 Aperients, febrifuges, i, 2, or 3, belladonna or hyos- 

 cyamus, should be used to calm the irritation of the 

 spinal cord and membranes ; followed by bromide of 

 potassium, nitrate of potash, &c., and later by gentian. 

 Draw off the urine regularly by the catheter ; promote 

 warmth by clothing and a good bed, turning frequently 

 to prevent injury to the skin. Use enemas to empty the 

 rectum, and let the food be nutritious and of easy 

 digestion. 



TETANUS, or Locked Jaw, cpnsists of violent spasm or 

 cramp of the muscular system, sometimes due to previous 

 operations or injuries, and at others indicating no par- 

 ticular cause. The whole body may be implicated in the 

 spasm, but the most remarkable signs are fixing of the 

 jaws, rendering mastication impossible, and drawing of 

 the eye backwards in the orbit, which has the effect ot 

 protruding the " haw," or membrana nictitatis. Twitch- 

 ings are seen over various muscles, the head is elevated, 

 and the nose protruded ; the tail is also raised and con- 

 stantly quivers, and the anus is compressed and smaller 



