PARALYSIS OF THE LOINS. 547 



TREATMENT OF SPINAL CONGESTION.— Give, in the first 

 instance, a dose of aloes. Blister along the spine, O'Ver the loins, 

 with biniodide of mercury ointment (1 to 4 of lard) ; and mix 1 oz. 

 of iodide of potassium in the food or water daily for a fortnight 

 or so. Keep the animal warmly clothed and stabled, and give 

 green food. If the patient can stand fairly well, slings may be of 

 use ; for it is quite possible that the local congestion might be 

 increased by lying down. If the paralysis be considerable, slings 

 should not be employed ; as the consequent pressure on the abdo- 

 men would interfere with digestion. If the animal is unable to 

 stretch himself out in order to urinate, the catheter should be 

 passed four or five times a day. 



The action of the purgative is to determine blood to the intes- 

 tines, and, consequently, to draw it away from the congested part ; 

 while, by diminishing the amount of watery fluid in the blood, 

 it hastens the absorption of the exuded serum. Tbe effect of the 

 counter-irritant (p. 17) on the skin is to diminish the blood- 

 pressure of the congested vessels, and, consequently, to relieve the 

 unhealthy condition which they are in. As contraction of tbe 

 superficial vessels is the original cause of the congestion of the 

 vessels of tbe cord, it is reasonable to conclude that dilation of 

 the former will be followed by more or less contraction of the 

 latter. The action of the iodide of potassium is to cause absorp- 

 tion of the serum. 



A fortnight or so after the commencement of the attack, it 

 may be considered that the inflammatory stage has passed, and 

 treatment may then be limited to giving a drachm of nux vomica 

 morning and evening in the food, and repeating the blister. As 

 a last resource, the horse may be fired along the spine over the 

 loins. The nux vomica should be discontinued as soon as nervous 

 twitchings make their appearance in the muscles of the animal, 

 or when his appetite begins to fail. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES.— The horse should be warmly 

 clothed, accordiSig to the season of the year, at night, and at other 

 times when the temperature of the atmosphere is liable to fall. 

 Precautions should be taken to prevent the animal getting chilled, 

 especially after work. His body should not be washed. It is a 

 good plan, in tropical climates, when the horse is picketed in the 

 open, to protect his spinal cord from the direct rays of the sun, 

 or from chill, by placing a folded blanket over his back and loins. 

 The horse should have the protection of a wall between him and 

 the quarter from which cold winds may be expected to blow. Of 

 course, these precautions are necessary only in places where the 

 disease is common. 



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