DISEASES OF THE NEEVOUS SYSTEM. 109 



about H ounces, which should be diluted with a quart of water before 

 it is given to the animal, either as a drench or an enema. When am- 

 monia can not be obtained, a pint of whisky in a quart of water or 

 an ounce of tincture of digitalis may be given. 



As soon as the animal is able to rise it should be assisted and moved 

 to the nearest shelter. All the cold water it will drink should be 

 allowed. The ammonia or spirits of nitrous ether drench should 

 be administered every three hours so long as there is much failure of 

 strength. The diet should be limited for several days — bran slops and 

 a little grass. A^^len signs of returning strength are presented, 12 

 ounces of Epsom salt dissolved in a quart of warm water may be 

 given in those cases which have been down and unconscious, but clo 

 not give it while much weakness remains, which may be for several 

 days after the attack. The flesh of an animal that is suffering from 

 heat stroke should not be prepared for use as food. On account of 

 the fever with which the animal suffers, the flesh contains toxins that 

 may render it poisonous to the consumer. 



INJURIES TO THE SPINAL CORD. 



The spinal cord is liable to concussion from blows and falls, and 

 paralysis, to a greater or less extent, may be the result. Fracture, 

 with displacement of the bones (vertebrae) which form the spinal 

 column, by compressing the spinal cord, produces paralysis, which 

 varies in its effect according to the part of the cord that is compressed. 

 If the fracture is above the middle of the neck, death soon follows, as 

 communication between the brain and diaphragm (the essential 

 muscle of inspiration) is stopped. Allien the fracture is farther down 

 in the neck, posterior to the origin of the phrenic nerve, the breath- 

 ing continues, but there is paralysis in all parts posterior to the 

 fracture, including the fore and hind legs. AAlien the fracture is in 

 the region of the loins the hind legs are paralyzed, but the fore legs 

 are not. If the fracture is in the sacrum (the division of the spinal 

 column between the loins and the tail), the tail alone is paralyzed. 



As a matter of course, when the back is broken there is no remedy ; 

 the animal should be killed at once. 



PARALYSIS. 



Paralysis, or loss of motion in a part, may be due to a lesion of the 

 brain, of the spinal cord, or of a nerve. It may also be caused by 

 reflex iiTitation. When the paralysis affects both sides of the body, 

 posterior to a point, it is further designated by the name paraplegia. 

 When one side of the body (a lateral half) is paralyzed, the term 

 hemiplegia is applied to the affection. \Mien paralysis is caused by 

 a lesion of a nerve, the paralysis is confined to the particular part 

 supplied by the affected nerve. 



