260 DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD 



Diagnosis. — ^The diagnosis of spinal myelitis depends upon 

 the presence of cord symptoms without history of injury. 

 The absence of extreme skin sensitiveness and muscular 

 spasm differentiates it from traumatic injury. From mus- 

 cular weakness attending general diseases which do not 

 involve the cord, the condition may be differentiated by the 

 absence in these of any sensory disturbance, bladder, rectum 

 or tail paralyses. 



Treatment. — ^The treatment is rarely satisfactory. The 

 patient should be provided with a clean, deep bed. Slings 

 may be used when feasible. The bladder and rectum may 

 be emptied manually. Every effort should be made to avoid 

 decubital gangrene. Drugs, such as iodid of potash, strychnin 

 or arsenic, do little or no good. Constipation may be relieved 

 by subcutaneous injections of arecalin (gr. i) and rectal 

 infusions. Electricity is much employed but little is to be 

 expected from it. As a rule, it pays to dispatch the patient. 



COMPRESSION OF THE SPINAL CORD. 



Definition. — A condition whereby the cord is pressed upon 

 by a growth, tumor, abscess or parasite which invades the 

 vertebral canal. 



Occurrence. — Compression of the cord is comparatively 

 rare in large animals. Occasional cases are recorded in horses, 

 cattle and swine. 



Etiology. — ^The following pathological conditions may lead 

 to compression of the cord : 



(a) Ossification of the intervertebral discs: Occasionally 

 in old horses a senile ossification occm-s and if the ossified disc 

 happens to protrude into the lumen of the vertebral canal, 

 compression of the cord results. 



(b) Inflammatory growths: In swine tuberculosis and in 

 cattle tuberculosis and actinomycosis of the vertebrae may 

 involve the vertebral canal and encroach upon the cord. 

 Occasionally the tuberculosis may develop upon the meninges 

 of the cord with similar results. In very rare instances 

 tuberculosis in the horse may involve the cord. More com- 

 monly glanders of the vertebral column may affect the cord. 



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