148 THE CANADIAN HOESE 



on the cord, or the membranes may become inflamed and 

 efifusion follow, producing partial or complete paralysis. 



Symptoms. — A thorough acquaintance with the anatomy 

 of the part is necessary to be able to give an opinion in 

 these cases. , 



When the " back is broken " the power of motion is com- 

 pletely destroyed in the parts of the body behind the injury, 

 though sensibility sometimes remains in a slight degree. 

 It may be seen at once by the complete loss of power follow- 

 ing a violent struggle, or he may merely be stiff, dragging 

 the quarters as he is being led home, but he soon goes down, 

 loses the use of the hind extremities entirely. This must 

 not be confounded with laceration of the psoas muscles, 

 which sometimes occurs from similar causes, also causing loss 

 of power behind ; in the latter he retains the power of 

 motion in the tail, and the sensibility of the legs remains. 

 Generally in complete paralysis the sphincters of the rectum 

 and bladder are relaxed and the dung and urine are involun- 

 tarily passed. " 



In cases of only partial loss of power, where effusion of 

 fluid is taking place, or bony enlargement pressing on the 

 cord, the palsy is gradual and seldom complete. The diffi- 

 culty in moving the hind limbs is very observable ; he drags 

 them after him in a manner very graphically given by Mr 

 Mayhew, — " one foot is perpetually getting in the way of the 

 other, and constantly threatening to throw the animal down, 

 whose walk already is rolling and unsteady." 



Treatment. — ^When fracture of the spine is ascertained to 

 have taken place, producing complete paralysis, he may be 

 destroyed, as even should partial recovery be attained, he is 

 not worth much. When only partial or diminished nervous 

 power exists, complete recovery may take place. Turn him 

 into a loose-box, open the bowels by laxatives. 



