s6o THE FAkM DOCTOk. 



the cause, whether this consist in digestive, urinaiy, ot uterine 

 disorder, in congestion, inflammation, or pressure on the brain 

 or nerves. When a nerve is cut across, we must wait for its 

 reunion. When the cause is irremovable the paralysis is 

 necessarily incurable. In cases of inflammation we must pro- 

 ceed as advised for inflammation of the brain or spinal cord. 

 Then apply cold douches and friction to the paralysed part, 

 followed by a blister. Blisters may also be applied to the 

 neighbourhood of the nerve centre presiding over the part. In 

 some cases the application of the hot iron lightly is beneficial. 

 A current of electricity directed along the course of the nerve 

 or through the paralyzed muscles may be repeated daily with 

 the best results ; or nerve stimulants (nux vomica, strychnia, 

 nitrate of silver, etc.) may be given twice daily, commencing 

 with small doses and gradually increasing them until twitching 

 or slight cramps of the muscles are seen ; then stop their 

 administration for a few days, and resume with half the former 

 doses. Never continue when the system is affected as shown 

 by muscular jerking. In some cases of local paralysis (retina, 

 etc.) excellent results are obtained from subcutaneous injections 

 of strychnia. 



STOMACH STAGGERS AND ACUTE LEAD POISONING. 



These are affections commencing with functional stomach 

 and brain disorder, and leading to congestion and inflammation 

 of the great nerve centres, and deserve a special notice. 



'^I'he stomach sias;gers of horses and cattle usually arise from 

 eating particular articles of food, such as the different forms of 

 rye grass, millet, vetches, tares, etc., when ripening and not 

 yet cured. A poisonous principle exists, which in the case of 

 the lolium temulentum has been separated as an extract, and 

 administered with fatal effects to horses, cattle, and dogs. It 

 jir.ts by paralyzing the stomach and congesting the brain. 

 Cattle will suffer similarly from ilie very rich vegetation of 



