84 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
the snimal so mutilated be pinched, he still persists in his retro 
grade course. Injuries of the medulla oblongata had the same 
effect. Pigeons, into which he forced a pin through that part, 
constantly receded for more than a month, and even flew back- 
ward. A section of the medulla oblongata, whe1e it approaches 
the anterior pyramid, gives rise to a movement in a “ircle like 
that of a horse ina mil], the animal, in its walk =r its flight, 
bearing round continually to the injured side. Surely we have. 
_ in these facts, supplied by experiments on living animals, and by 
observation of the phenomena of disease in the living numan 
body, some of the materials for a more exact knowledge, both of 
the physiology and of the pathology of the nervous system, than 
we have reached. M. Magendie supposes that different portions 
of the encephalon are endowed witb energies which tend to cause 
motion in various directions; that in the healthy state these bal- 
ance each other, and that a preponderating impulse can be given 
to any one of these forces by the will; but that when the equilib- 
rium is destroyed by disease, tne will is not sufficient to counter- 
act the tendencies which are then brought into play. Mr Mayo 
offers a different explanation of the phenomena. He supposes 
that the injuries inflicted on the nervous matter produce a sensa- 
tion analogous to vertigo, and that the animal conceives itself 
either to be hurried forward, and makes an exertion to repel im- 
aginary force, or to be moving backward, or turning round in 
one direction, and endeavors to correct this by moving the corre- 
sponding muscles.” 
Treatment.—In stringhalt, it is nearly always safe for us to 
conclude that it must be treated on the same general principles 
which obtain in the management of other nervous disorders of a 
chronic character, viz.: in the use of tonics and anti-svasmodics 
Take, for example: 
No. 10. Fiuid extract of valerian.......... i 
Fluid extract of poplar bark....... § °4"* pene: 
Dose, one ounce, morning and evening; to be placed on the 
tongue. The spine and affected limb or limbs should be mbbed 
every night, for a couple of weeks, with a portion of the following 
No. 11. Fluid extract of poppies...........05+ 6 os. 
Proof spirit.....ceceevesscccseceess » 1 ~ int. 
Mix. 
