85 



has existed long enough for its products to be exuded from 

 the vessels. We must also take into consideration that in 

 the cases where the power of deglutition of both fluids and 

 solids is lost, we are deprived of one method of administer- 

 ing medicine, viz., by the mouth, unless a stomach-pump 

 should be within reach, whereby we might pump or pour 

 the medicines through its tube safely into the stomach. We 

 must give a caution with regard to administering draughts 

 or medicine in a fluid form. It is often a risky experiment 

 for an inexperienced person, even on an animal whose powers 

 of deglutition are perfect, but in the cases now under con- 

 sideration, where those powers are but imperfect, if not 

 altogether lost, it is fraught with great danger; the fluid 

 may perhaps pass down the trachea to the bronchial tubes 

 and produce death by suff'ocation. If fluid medicine is 

 administered, it must be of a clear nature, and but little in 

 quantity. There are other methods of administering medi- 

 cines, such as by the rectum, or the hypodermic method ; 

 but when suddenly called iiway from home, we have not 

 always these facilities for administration. 



" The next questions are, ' What medicines should be ad- 

 ministered ?' ' What is the course of treatment to be adopted.-*' 

 As we have inflammation of a very important and grave 

 character to deal with, all our treatment must be brought to 

 bear upon it — to subdue it, if possible, or endeavor, if we 

 can, to diminish its intensity — to limit it to a part of the 

 spinal tract, and prevent it spreading to others. If when 

 the surgeon is called he finds the patient down, prostrated, 

 or that it has lost for some little time previously all power 

 of deglutition, he will find it almost useless to attempt treat- 

 ment ; but should the animal not be prostrated, and should 

 it be able to swallow food, or a bolus, though it cannot 

 swallow water, the prognosis is more favorable, and treat- 

 ment should be undertaken and persevered in while there is 

 a reasonable hope of recovery. 



" Blood-letting is a powerful antiphlogistic agent, but in 



