OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 241 



or it may be called palsy. It is a loss of the motor power as 

 concerning the voluntary movements of the body. It is a symp- 

 tom of other diseases. Paraplegia is the most common form of 

 the paralysis, — meaning paralysis of the body transversely. 



The causes are centric or reflex. Centric is due to external 

 violence, perhaps severing of the cord, or anything that will pro- 

 duce pressure on the cord, as fracture of the vertebrae. Reflex 

 causes must be referred to the periphery of the body, from 

 whence a disturbance is carried to the nerve centers. We see this 

 in canine distemper and in metritis in all females. The reflex 

 form of paraplegia resists treatment very much. It is likely to 

 occur from indigestion ; impaction of the rumen in cattle may 

 cause it. 



The symptoms show a partial or complete loss of power, 

 ^rst the motor. If the cause is reflex, there is a loss also of 

 the sensory. Constipation is usually present ; the muscles around 

 the neck of the bladder are relaxed and the urine dribbles away. 

 Prick the hind parts of the horse and he will not show any pain. 

 If this is done in the dog he will cry out. This shows that the 

 motor nerves are affected before the sensory. 



Hemiplegia is paralysis of one whole side of the body. The 

 cerebrum is usually affected. A ruptured blood vessel may be 

 the cause. Recovery is rare and also the disease i<-self in the 

 lower animals. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause. If impaction is at the bot- 

 tom, then give such drugs that will loosen the bowels. Dogs 

 usually recover from paraplegia. Bitches usually die. Give 

 the animal rectal injections. Give diuretics and stimulants such 

 as potassium, iodide and nux vomica. 



Hydrocephalus. — This is rare, especially in the adult. It is 

 seen in the fetus and renders parturition diflicult. The symp- 

 toms are very similar to those of cerebritis, but more mild in 

 character. The animal is stupid, keeps getting more so until 

 coma sets in and he dies. The effusion is usually in the sub- 

 arachnoid space or in the lateral ventricles. 



In the early stages of hydrocephalus there is fever and a lit- 

 tle irritability. The stupor and insensibility keep on increasing 



