209 



PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM AND TAIL. 



This is generally the result of a blow or fall on the rump, which 

 causes a fracture of the sacrum bone and injury to the nerves supply- 

 ing the tail and part of the rectum and muscles belonging thereto. 

 This fracture would not be suspected, were it not for the loss of motion 

 of the tail. 



INTESTINAL PARALYSIS. 



Characterized by persistent constipation; frequently the strongest 

 purgatives have no effect whatever on the movement of the boAvels. 

 In tlie absence of symptoms of indigestion, or special diseases impli- 

 cating the intestinal canal, torpor of the bowels must be attributed to 

 deficient innervation. This condition may depend upon brain affec- 

 tions, or be due to reflex ijaralysis. Sudden checks of i)erspiration 

 may induce excessive action of the bowels or paralysis. 



PARALYSIS OF THE BLADDER. 



This usually affects the neck of the bladder, and is characterized by 

 incontinence of urine — the urine dribbles away as fast as it is secreted. 



The cause may be of reflex origin, disease of the rectum, tumors 

 growing within the pelvic cavity, injury to the spinal cord, etc. 



PARALY'SIS OF THE OPTIC NERVE^AMAUROSIS. 



A paralysis of eyesight may occur very suddenlj- from rupture of a 

 blood vessel in the brain, acute local congestion of the brain, the admin- 

 istration of excessive doses of belladonna or its alkaloid atropia, etc. 



Sijyn2:)toms. — In amaurosis the jDupil is dilated to its full extent, the 

 eye looks clear, but does not respond to light. 



Paralysis of hearing, of the external ear, of the eyelid, partial paral- 

 ysis of the heart and organs of respiration, of the blood vessels from 

 injury to the vaso motor nerves of the oesophagus, or loss of degluti- 

 tion, palsy of the stomach, all may be manifested when the supply of 

 nervous influence is impaired or suspended. 



Treatment. — In all paralytic affections there maj' be anesthesia or 

 impairment of sensibility in addition to the loss of motion, or there 

 may be liyperc£stliesia or increased sensibility in connection with the 

 loss of motion. These conditions may call for sj^ecial treatment in 

 addition to that for loss of motion. Where hypera^sthesia is well 

 marked local anodynes may be needed to relieve suffering. Chloro- 

 form liniment or hypodermic injections of from 3 to 5 grains of sul- 

 phate of morphia will allay local pain. If there is marked anaesthesia 

 or loss of sensibility it may become necessary to secure the animal in 

 such a way that he can not suffer serious injury from accidents which 

 he can not avoid or feel. In the treatment of any form of paralysis 



