i6o Vetermary Medicine. 



little to be hoped for. The degenerated myel, and the badly- 

 wasted muscles, combine to prevent rising and the use of the 

 limbs, the sloughing bed sores quickly poison the blood and 

 general system, and the animal sinks beyond hope of remedy. 

 Again, if the faeces accumulate in the rectum causing general re- 

 tention of the bowel contents and fermentation, the shock to the 

 nervous system and the toxins absorbed add materially to the 

 prostration and danger. Finally the retained urine infected 

 through the blood or by a catheter, quickly passes into ammoni- 

 acal fermentation, with softening and detachment of the cystic 

 epithelium, septic infection of the mucosa, and the extension of 

 this infection through the ureters to the kidneys. The complica- 

 tion of infective inflammation of bladder and kidneys introduces 

 one of the most dangerous conditions possible. 



Treatment. In an acute case, at the outset, elimination of any 

 extraneous poison should be sought as the first step toward a 

 restoration of the normal spinal functions. Purgatives may be 

 employed to this end, and if the case is urgent and without spasms 

 immediate action may be sought by a hypodermic injection of 

 I y^ gr. eserine and 2 grs. of pilocarpin. Meanwhile the horse 

 may receive a dose of aloes, or the cow one of Epsom salts. 

 Abundance of watery or demulcent liquids given by the mouth or 

 as enemas, should not be omitted. 



When plethora has been a prominent factor and symptoms are 

 urgent, a free bleeding (4 to 5 quarts for horse or cow) from 

 the jugular vein may serve to relieve the vascular tension, 

 dilute the vital fluid, and moderate the inflammation. Hot 

 fomentations or sinapisms to the limbs, and even cupping on the 

 neck and chest, may contribute to relieve the tension on the 

 spine. When the temperature is already high, bags of ice may 

 be applied to the tender parts of the spine or those indicated to- 

 be the inflamed parts by the groups of rigid or paretic muscles. 

 Wet compresses or evaporating lotions may be substituted. In 

 the absence of mustard, tartar emetic, biniodide of mercury, or 

 euphorbium may be used, or even croton oil in a carefully 

 guarded manner, but cantharides, oil of turpentine, and other 

 agents calculated to irritate the kidneys are to be avoided. 



Bromides, hydrobromic acid, potassium iodide, chloral, or bel- 

 ladonna may be availed of. Some prefer ergot, but this, like 



