-400 VETERINARY SURGICAL. THERAPEUTICS, 
local paralysis have a gravity which varies much. The altered, divided 
nerve, more or less degenerated, may resume its role of conductor, but 
often recovery is slow. When itis a question of the nerve of legs, and that 
lameness prevents its utilization, there are cases where treatment cannot 
be undertaken except for costly animals. 
Rheumatismal paralysis are ordinarily benignant. Almost always they 
‘disappear in a few weeks. ‘Those due to slight traumatic lesions last 
sometimes only a few days; serious lesions of same nature bring on 
‘paralysis of long duration, sometimes permanent. While the paralysis of 
the radial nerve recovers almost always, that of the sus-scapular is per- 
manent in most cases. The incurability of the paralysis of the recurrent 
is explained by the constant compression on the nerve through the hyper- 
trophied glands. The atrophy of the muscles is always a sign of bad 
prognosis. The persistency of the faradic irritability is a favorable sign: 
its exaggeration is asign of early recovery. Incomplete paralysis, specially 
those of traumatic origin, generally end favorably and in a short time. 
It is known that most paresis of the radial nerve almost invariably get 
well in two or three weeks. The older the paralysis is and the atrophy 
marked, the more serious is the prognosis. 
The means of treatment vary with the nature of the trouble. In case 
-of compression by a callus, a tumor, a cicatrix, the sharp instrument 
must be resorted to. Paralysis that are produced by infiltration in recent 
traumatic lesions have a natural tendency to diminish by degree and at 
last disappear by the natural process of the cause. It is indicated to act 
at the same time on the nerve and on the muscles. When possible, 
recourse to electrotherapy is indicated, to shorten the duration of the 
disease as well as to prevent the muscular atrophy. Electricity is a 
powerful assistant, either by stimulating the nerve or exciting the mus- 
cular contractility. The negative pole (cathode) should be placed on the 
region corresponding to the nervous trunk or on a point where it is most 
superficial, and the positive pole (anode) upon the muscles where the 
nerves ramify. The seatings of electrization will last four or five minutes, 
and will be renewed every day, or from eight to ten minutes, and given 
every second day. The current should be weak, and strong ones always 
avoided, as being very painful. Often action is to be limited only on the 
muscles. The atrophy will be prevented by exercise ; massage,, blisters, 
cauterization, subcutaneous injections of veratrin, strychnine, salt-water have 
proved advantageous. In all cases existing for a short time, iodide of 
potassium is indicated ; it promotes resorption in perineurotic effusions. 
With rheumatismal paralysis, salicylate of soda will be prescribed. ° 
One must not take for paralysis the muscular atony sometimes observed 
in colts and in calves, in the first days following birth. Most often, the 
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