462 Veterinary Medimie. 



the system continues to receive large accessions of the toxic pro- 

 ducts. When the patient is down and unable to rise, the enforced 

 rest may be beneficial, but too commonly, the greater effort with 

 which breathing is carried on in the recumbent position, and the 

 frequent ineffectual struggles of the limbs prevent the requisite 

 muscular quietude. 



In some cases, and especially in the mildest, recovery may 

 seem to have been effected in a few hours, and in others it will 

 be seen in twenty-four or forty-eight hours, while in still others 

 the paresis and helplessness may continue for a week and yet be 

 followed by recovery. In these cases appetite may be retained 

 in greater or less degree, but the intestinal peristalsis is usually 

 weak and imperfect, the faeces small in quantity and dry, and 

 the bladder atonic so that the urine may have to be drawn off 

 with the catheter. It usually retains the deep red color, or im- 

 provement may be heralded by a change to a dirty grayish hue. 

 If, however, it shows an excess of albumen, cylindroid casts en- 

 tangling renal epithelium and white or red globules it will indi- 

 cate the access of diffuse nephritis and a prolonged or even a 

 fatal illness. 



When control of the limbs is not restored at the end of a week, 

 the paretic muscles usually undergo marked and rapid wasting, 

 which may last for months or years. This is especially common 

 in the case of the patellar muscles (muscle of the fascia lata, tri- 

 ceps extensor cruris) in which the atrophy may become so ex- 

 treme that the skin covering the inner and outer sides of the 

 thigh may be brought virtually in contact in front of the femur. 

 This entails an almost complete inability to sustain the body on 

 the hind limbs. When atrophy is less extreme, there is only a 

 weakness, stiffness, or swaying or staggering on the hind limbs 

 in progression. 



In fatal cases death may occur early in connection with the 

 violent struggles, the excited breathing, pulmonary hypostasis 

 and congestion, a cyanotic hue of the visible mucous membranes 

 and a gradual increase of stupor. Though delayed for several 

 days, there is a continuation of the muscular struggles, and the 

 labored breathing ; the red or glairy character of the urine per- 

 sists or is exaggerated ; the nervous irritability increases, with 

 muscular trembling ; and cyanosis, or stupor increases until death. 



