PALSY. 125 



what is called chest-foundered. From his very make it is evident that, 

 in long-continued and considerable exertion, the subscapular muscles will 

 be liable to sprain and inflammation. There will be inflammation of the 

 fasciae, induration, loss of power, loss of nervous influence and palsy. 

 Cattle, driven far and fast to the market, suffer from the same cause. 

 Palsy is frequent, as in the dog. However easy it may be to subdue a 

 rheumatic affection, in its early stage, by prompt attention, yet if it is 

 neglected, it very soon simulates, or becomes essentially connected with, or 

 converted into, palsy. 



No animal presents a more striking illustration of the connexion be- 

 tween intestinal irritation and palsy than does the dog. He rarely or 

 never has enteritis, even in its mildest form, without some loss of power 

 over the hinder extremities. This may at first arise from the participation 

 of the lumbar muscles with the intestinal irritation ; but, if the disease 

 of the bowels continues long, it will be evident enough that it is not pain 

 alone that produces the constrained and incomplete action of the muscles 

 of the hind extremities, but that there is an actual loss of nervous power. 

 A dog is often brought to the veterinary surgeon, with no apparent dis- 

 ease about him except a staggering walk from weakness of the hind limbs. 

 He eats well and is cheerful, and his muzzle is moist and cool ; but his 

 belly is tucked up, and there are two longitudinal cords, running parallel 

 to each other, which will scarcely yield to pressure. The surgeon orders 

 the castor-oil mixture twice or thrice daily, until the bowels are well acted 

 upon, and, as soon as that is accomplished, the dog is as strong and as well 

 as ever. Perhaps his hind limbs are dragged behind him : a warm bath is 

 ordered, he is dosed well with the castor-oil mixture, and, if it is a recent 

 case, the animal is well in a few days. In more confirmed palsy, the 

 charge, or plaster on the loins, is added to the action of the aperient on 

 the bowels. The process may be somewhat slow, but it is seldom that 

 the dog does not ultimately and perfectly recover. 



It is easy to explain this connexion, although we should have scarcely 

 supposed that it would have been so intimate, had not frequent experience 

 forced it on our observation. The rectum passes through the pelvis. 

 Whatever may be said of that intestine, considering its vertical position 

 in the human being, it is always charged with faeces in the quadruped. 

 It therefore shares more in the effect, whatever that may be, which is pro- 

 duced by the retention of faeces in the intestinal canal, and it shares also 

 in the inflammatory affection of other parts of the canal. Almost in 

 contact with this viscus, or at least passing through the pelvis, are the 

 crural nerves from the lumbar vertebrae, the obtusator running round the 

 rim of the pelvis, the glutal nerve occupying its back, and the sciatic 

 hastening to escape from it. It is not difficult to imagine that these, to a 

 certain degree, will sympathise with the healthy and also the morbid state 

 of the rectum ; and that, when it is inert, or asleep, or diseased, they also 

 may be powerless too. Here is something like fact to establish a very 

 important theory, and which should be deeply considered by the sportsman 

 and the surgeon. 



Mr. Dupuy has given a valuable account of the knowledge we possess 

 of the diseases of the spinal marrow in our domestic quadrupeds. 

 He has proved 



1. That in our domestic animals the spinal marrow is scarcely ever 

 affected through the whole of its course. 



