PAEALYSIS. 389 



food the head is held awry, the food is gathered slowly and 

 imperfectly, and not unfrequently it falls out of the mouth, the 

 animal being unable either to retain or to masticate it. 



Sometimes the loss of power is limited to one side of the 

 face, in which case the muscles affected are drawn towards the 

 contrary side; prehension of the food is more perfect than 

 when both sides are affected; and the animal also masticates 

 with greater power and freedom. 



Causes. — Pressure upon the facial nerves. I was once 

 called to eight horses aU affected with facial paralysis. They 

 had been used a few hours previously at a funeral, and each 

 horse had carried a plume upon his head, which plume had been 

 made secure by inserting the bottom part of it into a broad 

 flat steel spring of an arch-like form, the ends of which pressed 

 close to the cheeks and immediately upon the facial nerves, and 

 every animal in consequence became completely palsied in the 

 face and lips. Two of the number were many weeks before 

 they thoroughly recovered. 



Teeatmettt. — Cold Douche. — In eases of this nature it 

 is better not to resort at once to medicine. Patience, aided by 

 a few simple modes of treatment, may suffice to restore the 

 nervous energy. Douche the cheeks occasionally, with cold 

 water ; apply it freely by means of a syringe, similar to the one' 

 figured at page 157. If the muscles on both sides of the head 

 are affected, douche both sides of the face at the same time ; 

 and immediately after the operation envelope the head of the 

 patient in a thick woollen rug, and by means of it rub the parts 

 affected until the hair is dry, and warmth is thoroughly restored 

 to the skin. Be careful not to uncover the head of the animal 

 until the skin is warm and the hair dry, otherwise the douche 

 will do little or no good. The operation may be repeated twice 



