PARALYSIS. 



527 



keep it up twice or thrice daily so long as the animal remains' recumbent. Remove 

 the shoes from the fore feet to prevent bruising of the chest and elbows while lying ; 

 apply hot cloths or slightly stimulating liniment to the loins and quarters. Keep 

 • the bowels open by moderate cathartics and enemas, and thus assist, the kidneys in, 

 execrating the effete materials from the blood. The kidneys usually act freely 

 enough, but should they not do so, diuretics should not be given during the early 

 stages, as they would most likely increase the already excessive congestion. Allow 

 plenty of fresh water and good, nutritious, easily digested food, if the animal will 

 eat. 



After the second or third day, should there be great debility, vegetable tonics 

 with alcoholic stimulants should be given in moderation. The animal should be 

 turned from side to side three or four times daily, but on no account urged -to. get up, 

 nor should slings ever be used, as they only aggravate the case and retard the recov- 

 ery. When the animal is fit to be up, he will get up alone without urging. 



Should some degree of paralysis remain after two or three weeks, nux vomica 

 conjoined with diuretics are to be used. In mild cases, a gentle cathartic, with a 

 day or two of rest, is sufficient. The progress is favorable, most cases making. a 

 rapid and complete recovery. In the more severe cases, if the animal becomes quiet 

 after 12 to 30 hours, with regular, not much quickened pulse, the appetite returns, 

 and the animal lies a large part of the time upon his chest ; recovery may be looked 

 for, although the animal may be unable to rise for five or six days. 



When the animal continues restless and weak, will not lie upon his chest except 

 when-held, refuses food almost entirely, the pulse becomes weaker and quicker, with 

 considerable elevation of temperature, the case is to be considered a very grave one. 



Paralysis. 



The horse is taken suddenly, falls down, and is unable to rise. Sensation al- 

 most completely lost in posterior ex- 

 tremities. No increase in the" pulsa- 

 tion ; temperature will be found at 102° 

 to i03°. The usual remedy is to give a 

 sharp cathartic (see "Physicking"), and 

 have the animal placed in slings. Next 

 apply stimulating embrocations to the 

 spine, and give one of the following 

 balls every eight hours : — 



Alcoholic' extract belladonna 1 oz. 



Bromide potass 4 oz. 



Liquorice root sufficient to make into 

 six balls for the first stage. 



This treatment should be persisted in 

 for the first four days, thoroughly bath- 

 ing the animal's hind quarters with 

 mustard water, and keeping up the 

 stimulants to the spine until sore. The 

 application of a fresh sheep-skin or a 

 hot salt bath to the loins would be still better. 



There is another difficulty which resembles spinal paralysis, namely Azotaria 

 (treatment for which is given under that head). As in the first case, the animal 

 drops, and loses all power to get up. In spinal paralysis there is a loss of sensation, 



Fig. 838.— Short-necked Horses Most Sub|aot 

 to this Trouble. 



