210 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



with a debilitated state of the constitution in general. 

 Thus it most frequently follows the depraved and im- 

 poverished condition of the blood seen in distemper, 

 although it is said also to immediately follow injury invol- 

 ving the cerebro-spinal central masses. It may be 

 general or local, and the latter usually terminates in the 

 former. One limb only may be affected or both fore or 

 both hind. In yet other instances the muscles of the face 

 only are involved. The derangement consists in clonic 

 spasms which may persist even during sleep. The general 

 disorder is described as a paralysis agitans and usually 

 proves fatal, but the more local varieties of the disease 

 are often amenable to treatment. The effect produced on 

 the appearance and actions of the animal by the clonic 

 spasms is characteristic ; the patient is often highly irri- 

 table, and he cries plaintively in his sleep. In other cases 

 he seems in excellent spirits and has a very good appetite ; 

 the constant motion wears him out and he succumbs to 

 exhaustion, preceded in most cases by paralysis. Dr. 

 Growers and Mr. Sankey have examined the pathological 

 anatomy in canine chorea and reported their results before 

 the Royal Med. and Chir. Society of London (vide ' Veteri- 

 nary Journal,' vol. v). They examined two cases. In 

 one the movements were confined to one foreleg. In it 

 the medulla oblongata was normal, and the other centres 

 were but slightly affected. On examination of the spinal 

 cord it was found that the large cells of the cervical 

 region were very granular and appeared swollen, more so 

 on the right side than on the left ; there was a slight 

 increase in the minute nuclei of the anterior (inferior) 

 right column ; in the anterior lumbar region the nerve- 

 cells of the right superior vesicular column were more 

 granular than those of the left. The second case was a 

 sequela of distemper. The twitchings were general, the 

 limbs, especially the hind ones, were very weak and the 

 sensibility of especially the posterior part of the body was 

 diminished. Extensive disease of the spinal cord, medulla 

 oblongata, and cerebellum was found, there being an infil- 

 tration of round lymphoid cells like leucocytes. Areas so 



