203 



deficient innervation. This condition may depend upon brain affec- 

 tions, or be dne to reflex paral^'sis. Sudden checks of perspiration 

 may induce excessive action of the bowels or paralysis. 



PARALYSIS OF THE BLADDER. 



This usually affects the neck of t\ie 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 grow- 

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



PARALYSIS OF THE OPTIC NERVE — AMAUROSIS. 



A paralysis of eyesight may occur very suddenly 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. 



Symptoms. — In amaurosis the pupil 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 deglutition, 

 palsy of the stomach, all may be manifested when the supply of ner- 

 vous influence is impaired or suspended. 



Treatment. — In all paralytic affections there may be ancesthesia or im- 

 pairment of sensibility in addition to the loss of motion, or there may 

 be hypercvsthesia or increased sensibility in connection with the loss of 

 motion. These conditions may call for special treatment in addition to 

 that for loss of motion. Where hypt rajsthesia is well marked local 

 anodynes may be needed to relieve suffering. Chloroform liniment or 

 hypodermic injections of from 3 to 5 grains of sulphate of morphia will 

 allay local i^ain. 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 we must always refer to the 

 cause, and attempt its removal if it can be discovered. In cases where 

 the cause can not be determined we have to rely solely upon a general 

 external and internal treatment. Externally, fly-blisters or strong irri- 

 tant liniments may be applied to the paralyzed parts. In hemiplegia 

 they should be applied along the bony part of the side of the neck; in 

 paraplegia, across the loins. In some cases hot-water cloths will be 

 beneficial. Internally, it is well to administer 1 dram of powdered nux 

 vomica or 2 grains of sulphate of strychnia twice a day until twitch- 

 ing of some of the voluntary muscles occur ; then discontinue it for sev- 

 eral days, and then commence again with a smaller dose, gradually in- 

 creasing it until twitching recurs. In some cases Fowler's solution of 

 arsenic in teaspoonful doses twice a day, in the drinking water, proves 

 beneficial. Occasionally benefit may be derived from the application 



