204 



of the electric current, especially in cases of roaring, facial paralysis, 

 liaralysis of the eyelid, etc. Nutritious but not too bulky food, good 

 veutilation, clean stabling, moderate exercise if the animal is capable 

 of taking it, good grooming, etc., should be observed in all cases. 



SPINAL MENINGITIS — INFLAMMATION OF THE MEMBRANES ENVELOP- 



INa THE SPINAL CORD. 



Causes. — This may be induced by the irritant properties of blood- 

 poisons, exhaustion, and exposure, spinal concussion, all forms of injury 

 to the spine, tumors, caries of the vertebrse, rheumatism, etc. 



Symptoms. — A chill may be the precursor, a rise in temperature, or a 

 general weakness and shifting of the legs. Soon a painful, convulsive 

 twitching of the muscles sets in, followed by muscular rigidity along the 

 spine, in which condition the animal will move very stifliy and evince 

 great pain in turning. Evidences of paralysis or paraplegia develop, 

 retention or incontinence of urine, and oftentimes sexual excitement is 

 present. The presence of marked fever at the beginning of the attack, 

 associated with spinal symptoms, should lead us to suspect spinal men- 

 ingitis or myelitis. These two conditions usually appear together, or 

 myelitis follows inflammation of the meninges so closely that it is almost 

 impossible to separate the two ; practically it does not matter much, for 

 the treatment will be about the same in both cases. Spinal meningitis 

 generally becomes chronic, and is then marked principally by paralysis 

 of that portion, or parts of it, posterior to the seat of the disease. 



Pathology. — In spinal meningitis we will find essentially the same con- 

 dition as in cerebral meningitis ; there will be an effusion of serum be- 

 tween the membranes, and often a plastic exudation firmly adherent to 

 the pia mater serves to maintain a state of paralysis for a long time 

 after the acute symptoms have disappeared by compressing the cord. 

 Finally, atrophy, softening, and even abscess may develop within the 

 cord. Unlike in man, it is usually found localized in horses. 



Treatment. — Bags filled with ice should be applied along the spine, to 

 be followed later on bj'^ strong blisters. The fever should be controlled 

 as early as possible by giving 20 drops of Norwood's tincture of vera- 

 trum viride every hour, until the desired result is obtained. One dram 

 of the fluid extract of belladonna, to control pain and vascular excite- 

 ment of the spinal cord, may be given every five or six hours until the 

 pupils of the eyes become pretty well dilated. If the pain is very in- 

 tense 5 grains of sulphate of morphia should be injected hypodermically. 

 The animal must be kept as free from excitement as possible. If the 

 urine is retained in the bladder it must be drawn off every four or six 

 hours. In very acute attacks the disease generally proves fatal in a 

 few days. If, however, the animal grows better some form of paraly- 

 sis is apt to remain for a long time and the treatment will have to 

 be directed then toward a removal of the exudative products and a 



