214 



on the second or thij-tl day fever is apt to appear, and increased or 

 diminislied sensibility along the spine posterior to the seat of tlie 

 clot. "When the bladder and rectum are involved in the synqitonis 

 it indicates that the spinal cord is compressed. 



Treaimerd. — In the occurrence of injuries to the back of ahorse, 

 whenever there is any evidence of paralysis, it is always advisable to 

 apply bags of ice along the spine to check or prevent hemorrhage or 

 congestion, and 2 drams of the fluid extract of ergot and 20 drops of 

 tincture of digitalis may be given every hour until three doses have 

 been taken. Subsequently tincture of belladonna in half-ounce doses 

 may be given three times a day. If there is much x^ain, 5 grains of 

 sulphate of morphia, injected under the skin, Avill atford relief and 

 lessen the excitability of the animal. In all cases the animal should 

 be kept perfectly quiet. 



SPINAL CONCUSSION. 



This is rarely observed in the horse, and unless it is sufficiently 

 severe to produce Avell-marked symptoms it would not be suspected. 

 It may occur in saddle-horses from jumping, or it may l>e produced by 

 falling over an embankment, or a violent fall upon the haunches may 

 produce it. Concussion may be followed by partial paralysis or spinal 

 hemorrhage; generally, however, it is confined to a jarring and some 

 disturbance of the nerve elements of the cord, and the paralytic effect 

 which ensues soon passes off. Treatmeut consists in rest nntil the 

 animal has comx>letely recovered from the shock. If secondary effects 

 folloAv from hemorrhage, or comx^ression, they have to be treated as 

 heretofore directed. 



SPINAL TUMORS. 



AVithin the substance of the chord glioma, or the mixed giiosarco- 

 mata, is found to be the most frequent, tumors may form from the 

 meninges and the vertebrae, being of a fibrous or bony nature, and affect 

 the sx)inal cord indirectly by comx>i'ession. In tlie meninges Ave may 

 find glioma, cancers, x^sammoma, fibromata; and aneurisms of the 

 spinal arteries have been discoA'ered in the spinal canal. 



Sympfoms. — Tumors of the spinal canal cause symptoms of spinal 

 irritation, or compression of the cord. The gradual and slow devel- 

 opment of synn)toms of x^aralysis of one or both hind limbs or certain 

 muscles may lead to a susx^iciou of sx^inal tumors. The iiaralj'sis 

 induced is progressive, but not usually marked Avith atrophy of the 

 muscles, or increased sensibility along the spine. When the tumor 

 is Avithin the spinal cord itself all the symptoms of myelitis may be 

 present. 



Treafmenf. — General tonics and dram doses of nux vomica may be 

 given; iodide of iron or.iodide of potassa in dram doses, three times 

 a day in feed, may, in a very fcAA^ cases, give some temx^orary benefit. 

 Usually the disease progresses steadily until it proves fatal. 



