: 86 DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



horses, and parturient apoplexy in cattle, are apparent examples 

 of paraplegia, but the condition is only symptomatic of these con- 

 ditions. 



Treatment. — The treatment of paraplegia depends on its 

 etiology. In general one should make a careful physical examina- 

 tion to eliminate nephritis, hemoglobinuria, cystitis, nephritis, heart 

 disease and lumbago in dogs, etc., and treat any existing cause of 

 so-called reflex paraplegia. In dogs with constipation, food should 

 be withheld until the bowels are moved with enema and castor oil. 

 Or, if there is vomiting and abdominal pain, give cerium exalate 

 (gr. iii) and bismuth subnitrate (gr. xx), by mouth, and compound 

 cathartic pills (i-iv), or calomel (gr. ii-v), and empty the rectum 

 by enemata of oil, soap-suds, or by blunt curette. Lancing the 

 gums in dentition-irritation; and treatment of causal diseases (see 

 Puerperal Apoplexy, Indigestion — for impaction of rumen, Colic, 

 Muscular Rheumatism, Nephritis, Cystitis, etc.) is indicated. The 

 bowels and bladder should be regularly evacuated in all cases and 

 hot fomentations applied to the loins. Later on, a fly blister rubbed 

 into the lumbar region (except in nephritis or cystitis) and po- 

 tassium iodide (H. and C, 3ii-iii; D., gr. x) may be given thrice 

 daily to aid resolution of exudation in inflammatory disease of the 

 cord, together with strychnine as a stimulant to the nervous sys- 

 tem in any case (H. and C, gr. i-ii; D., gr. 1/120-1/30). 



Local Paralysis is commonly due to a peripheral neuritis 

 from blows, injuries, pressure and, less often, to lead poisoning 

 and infections. In the horse, paralysis of the lip and face (facial 

 nerve) from pressure of a heavy bridle; of the shoulder (supra- 

 scapular nerve) ; of the extensors of the fore leg (radial nerve) ; of 

 the gemelli and flexors of the foot (tibial nerve) ; of the extensors 

 of the patella (crural nerve) ; of the adductors of the thigh (ob- 

 turator nerve), etc., are not infrequent and recovery is not un- 

 usual. If contractility of the muscles to faradic current persists, 

 the prognosis is good. In paralysis of the lip in horses, the lip hangs 



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