Acute Myelitis. Poliomyelitis. i6i 



strychnia, is of doubtful effect or positively injurious in most 

 cases in the early stages. Even in the early stages electricity 

 may be used in the form of a constant current, which tends to 

 vaso-motor contraction and a better tone of the capillaries. The 

 electrodes may be applied along the affected side of the spine so 

 that the current may traverse the affected part. It may be kept 

 up for ten to twenty minutes at a time and repeated daily. Any 

 undue suffering under the current may be accepted as a demand 

 for the reduction of its force or its suspension for the time being. 



When the hyperthermia has subsided and the occurrence of 

 paresis or paralysis demands nervous stimuli, these may be sought 

 in counterirritants, strychnia, and interrupted currents of elec- 

 tricity. The blisters already mentioned may be used. Strychnia 

 may be used internally (horse or ox 2 grs., sheep }^ gr., dog fV to 

 ■^ gr. ) or hypodermically (horse i>^ gr., sheep }i gr., dog ^\-^ 

 to -^ gr. ). Should this excite the animal or aggravate the symp- 

 toms it must be stopped and deferred until the inflammation shall 

 have more completely subsided. The same remark applies to 

 electricity which may be tried in the interrupted current, and 

 graduated to the endurance of the patient or entirely abandoned 

 for the time. 



If the patient is able to support itself on its limbs, it is best 

 kept in a sling to avoid the formation of sloughs and sores. If 

 it cannot so support itself a very thick soft bed of litter is essen- 

 tial to avoid the sloughing and septic poisoning. Food must be 

 laxative and easily digestible such as mashes, hay tea, and boiled 

 or pulped roots. Fresh green grass may be employed when ob- 

 tainable. 



During convalescence a course of bitters with calcium phos- 

 phate and carefully regulated exercise are important. In tardy 

 cases Trasbot especially recommends cauterization. 



