386 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
pression is great or continued for a long time, the lesions consist in 
degeneration of the nervous cord and the paralysis of the region where it 
is distributed. 
Paralysis from casting will be avoided by not keeping the animal too 
long down, specially when the anterior leg of the side on which he lies is. 
fixed in crossed position. In difficult accouchements, the foetus must be: 
displaced and put in good position to facilitate its exit and avoid all 
nervous lesion of the pelvis. 
The treatment of compressions of traumatic nature and of paralysis. 
resulting from it, is that of nervous contusions: rest and irritating frictions. 
on the affected muscles. If these atrophy, blisters, cauterization, exercise: 
are the most recommended agents. 
Some paralysis due to the compression of a nerve by a bony callus demand 
that it should be isolated from it. After the incision of the skin and tissues: 
underneath, the nerve is liberated by the aid of the gouge and mallet, 
acting with a great deal of care. The nerve disengaged, the muscles re-- 
cuperate their functions and return by degrees to their physiological condi- 
tion. The ablation of a large cicatrix or of a tumor may also remove: 
troubles produced by compression of the nerves in its neighborhood. 
Contusions of nerves result from‘external (blows, knocks, falls) or from. 
internal causes (luxations, fractures). They are observed generally on 
nerves that are little protected. The facial, on account of its superficial 
situation, is the most frequently affected. In the legs, nervous trunks, 
situated rather deep in the greatest part of their course, are rarely injured 
by traumatisms. 
The lesions made vary according to the severity of the cause; at times 
there is only a slight bloody extravasation between the tubes and rupture 
of some of them; at others the bloody infiltration extends in the nervous. 
cord, far from the contused point; in serious cases, there is crushing of 
the nerve, rupture of its fibres, distension of the sheath by a reddish 
pulp. Whatever may be the degree and extent of these lesions, the- 
neurilemma is intact or very little altered. The divided nervous tubes. 
undergo the wallerian degeneration in their peripherical end, and when the: 
nerve is entirely crushed, the recurrent fibres alone escape destruction. 
These disorders are characterized by sharp pain at the injured spot, 
which sometimes extends alongside the nervous trunk, and by a more or 
less complete paralysis of the sensibility and motion. 
Rest is the first indication common to all the cases. Besides, the 
resorption of the exudate should be stimulated so as to relieve the nervous 
element and prevent neuritis. Antiphlogistics, massage, then stimulating 
and blistering applications are ordinarily used. The administration of 
- jodide of potassium internally is advantageous. The paralysis of all the 
