THE HORSE—-THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 49 
ment and delirium, followed by stupidity. It is not attended with swelling 
of the stomach, as in the case of Stomach Staggers. 
TREATMENT.—Treatment is seldom beneficial, but the remedies most 
likely to relieve are here given, and should be administered while the horse 
is kept perfectly quiet in cases of Apoplexy. Belladonna is desirable for 
wild, staring, immovable eyes, with enlarged pupils; twitching and jeiking 
of the legs; involuntary passage of urine. Continue it some time. Give 
nux vomica for lessened consciousness; constipation; involuntary discharge 
of urine; inability to move the limbs; spasmodic jerks. Opium may be 
given for drowsiness, or deep sleep; irregular, snoring breathing; full, slow 
pulse; contracted pupils. In the case of Apoplexy, keep the horse per- 
fectly quiet. When Sleepy Staggers are under treatment, do not work 
the horse at all in warm weather, and never to excess at any time. While 
the former is rapidly fatal, the latter may continue even for years, though 
the animal is not fit for breeding purposes after it has appeared. 
PARALYSIS. 
This is a loss of the power of locomotion, perhaps with loss of sensi- 
bility, resulting from a disorder of the nerves. It usually affects only the 
hind parts, but may be found in any portion of the body which is influ- 
enced by the nerves that are disordered. It is caused by attempts to stop a 
heavy load when descending a hill; by slipping up; by straining in a leap; 
by a severe blow on the back; by turning in a stall; by casting in the stable; 
by violent exertion during a surgical operation; by a fall in a race, in which 
case the horse lies a short time, rises slowly, is stiff, drags his legs, lies in 
the stable unable to rise, indicating great pain, quivering and slight spasms of 
the muscles of the hind quarters if there be a strain in the muscles; (if the 
spine be injured by such a fall, the muscles are quiet and soft to the touch). 
Another cause is the bringing of young horses to a sudden halt, throwing 
them upon their haunches. " 
Symptoms.—In slight paralysis, dragging of the hind legs; in other 
cases, inability to rise, excepting to receive a support on the front legs; loss 
of sensibility in the affected parts; involuntary discharge of dung and urine; 
mottification. It should be said, in generai, that any portion of the body, 
however small, may be paralyzed. 
TREATMENT.—The first aim in the treatment is the discovery and re- 
moval of the special cause, if that is possible, whether it be a derangement 
of the urinary, digestive or uterine organs, congestion, inflammation, or the 
pressure of some foreign substance on the brain. When paralysis is due to 
some inflammatory condition of the brain or spinal cord, with wild, staring 
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