INTOXICATIONS. 251 



Shall we use slings? 



This depends a good deal on the people that we come in eon- 

 tact with. 



The majority of cases die anyway, and many of our clients 

 will not be satisfied unless we at least try to sling these animals. 



The rule is that it is best not to sling, except in some of the 

 milder cases, where the animal is partially able to stand. They 

 generally sag in the slings, break out in a sweat, thrash around, 

 break the slings possibly, and you have to let them down. 



The cases often make a complete recovery in four or five days. 



Often they may not die, but are apt to have paralysis of the 

 muscles of one leg. The anterior crural nerve is paralyzed, causing 

 atrophy of the muscles in that region, and they have a peculiar 

 motion — a dropping of that extremity. The paralyzed condition 

 in many cases responds to strychnine by the mouth and hypoder- 

 mically. The animal should be turned to pasture for natural ex- 

 ercise after the acute symptoms have subsided. If improvement 

 is shown up to about four months the animal will usually recover 

 to usefulness in from eight to ten months. After about six 

 months, forced exercise in the shape of slow work (drawing fairly 

 heavy loads) will often aid the development of the muscles. If 

 no improvement whatever in four months destruction is advisable. 



The affection usually commences in one leg and may gradually 

 include the other, that is, affecting both. 



Always examine the urine, which should be drawn off with 

 a catheter at least once in twenty-four hours. In some cases there 

 may be a spasm of the muscles of the penis, which renders it al- 

 most impossible to introduce a catheter. In these cases introduce 

 the arm into the rectum and cause pressure on the bladder; this 

 will often enable you to draw down the penis and introduce the 

 catheter, or it may cause an evacuation of bladder without using 

 the catheter. The urine may be so thick that it will not run. 

 Theoretically, it would seem that the bladder should be washed out 

 with warm water containing boric acid, quinine, bichloride of 

 mercury, etc., and it may be good practically. 



Hot blankets over the loins may do some good, but blisters, 

 etc., do harm in the beginning. 



Keep animal as quiet as possible, give a good soft bed, soft 

 feed, and plenty of water, and turn the animal from side to side 

 once or twice during twenty-four hours to avoid bed-sores. 



