256 THE FARM DOCTOR. 



of cities, from some cause acting generally. The true cause is 

 unknown, though, in many cases, debilitating conditions, like 

 unwholesome food or water, overwork, sudden exposure to 

 intense heat or suddenly induced plethora will serve as imme- 

 diate excitants of the morbid process. It is peculiar to no 

 season, but has not been recognised in Europe. 



Symptoms. — These are varied according to the case. Some 

 are seized abruptly with cramps of the voluntary muscles, 

 especially those of the neck and hind limbs, which soon give 

 place to general palsy— motor and sensory. In other cases 

 the onset is slow. There may be trembling, dulness, and lassi- 

 tude for some hours or days, or there may be some local 

 paralysis, like that of the throat or lips, incapacitating the 

 animal from swallowing liquids, or causing profuse slavering. 

 But sooner or later, in all cases alike, paralysis sets in and the 

 animal is barely able to support itself, or, if worse, lies prostrate 

 on his side with limbs extended and flaccid. If the case is to 

 prove fatal, coma and complete stupor usually precedes death. 

 If recovery ensues, appetite is often preserved throughout, and 

 restoration of the general health precedes the disappearance of 

 the palsy, sometimes by several months. The pulse throughout 

 is little varied, being usually slow and soft at first, and weaker 

 and more rapid as the disease advances. Breathing, at first 

 little affected, becomes deep and stertorous as coma sets in. 

 The surface temperature is cool, and that in the rectum usually 

 natural. The bowels are generally costive and the urine 

 unchanged, and may pass involuntarily. Tenderness of the 

 spine may sometimes be detected by percussion, and will guide 

 to the precise seat of local disease. 



Treatment. — The disease is very fatal, though varying much 

 in successive outbreaks. Excepting in cases of complete 

 paralysis and coma the patient should be placed in slings and 

 have what laxative food (bran mashes, roots, etc.) he will take. 

 Cold lotions (nitre and sal-ammoniac) or bags of pounded ice 



