Diagnosis, Prognosis. 897 



hemoglobinemia is distinguished by the history, the hard con- 

 sistency and enlargement of the affected muscles, and by the 

 hemoglobinuria, while in enzootic spinal meningitis, hematuria 

 may also appear frequently. Sometimes a compression of the 

 spinal cord (melanoma, exostosis) may also give rise to mistakes 

 in cases in which they produce a sudden paralysis. They may 

 be excluded in the same manner as contusions of the spinal cord. 

 In unilateral paralysis a paralysis of the peripheric nerves must 

 also he excluded on the ground of local examinations and with 

 consideration of the presence of hemoglobinuria. 



Fractures of the bones (pelvis and femur), as well as 

 tearing of the Achilles tendon may result in clinical manifesta- 

 tions similar to paralytic hemoglobinemia. In such cases local 

 examination would reveal the true cause ; in a severe paralysis 

 due to hernoglobinemia the urine almost invariably contains 

 blood coloring matter, however as traumatic influences may 

 simultaneously produce a hemorrhage in the urinary passages, 

 the examination of the sediment of the urine determines in 

 doubtful cases whether hemoglobinuria or hematuria is present. 

 Swellings and a firmer consistence of the muscles of the croup, 

 with absence of the patellar reflexes, have in such cases little 

 significance, as enlargements of muscles are also observed in 

 fractures of bones or tearing of muscles, with extensive hemor- 

 rhagic infiltration, and at such times the contractility of the 

 muscle or percussion of the patellar ligament may disappear. 



The thrombosis of the posterior aorta and its branches 

 differs in that the animals are after a certain time again capable 

 of standing up and walking normally; after more strenuous 

 exercise however they again collapse. At the same time the 

 presence of a thrombus or the absence of pulsation may be 

 established by rectal examination of the iliac or of the femoral 

 arteries. 



Colicky affections can only be excluded by a somewhat 

 careful examination. 



Prognosis. The prognosis appears unfavorable in propor- 

 tion to the completeness of the lumbar paralysis, the number 

 of muscles showing functional disturbances, and to the pro- 

 nounced character of the hemoglobinuria. If the animals can- 

 not rise in spite of apparent health, or if they are not capable 

 of standing up by themselves or in slings even for a short 

 time, further if they remain lying for longer than three days, 

 the urine containing at the same time elements indicating an 

 affection of the kidneys, finally if high fever is present, there 

 is only very slight chance for recovery, especially if extensive 

 decubital gangrene becomes associated with the disease. A 

 very accelerated and weak pulse has an unfavorable significance, 

 according to Konig, also the marked increase of red blood 

 corpuscles at the onset of the affection. 



On the other hand there is always hope for an early re- 



Vol. 1—57 



