310 LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
sensibility or mobility of some part of the body, commonly of both 
faculties.” 
Youatt says, “ palsy means a diminution or a suspension of the 
influence of the nervous system, whether sensitive or motor.” 
Before entering into the pathology of the disease, it will, perhaps, 
be advantageous to glance at the structure and functions of some 
of the organs that are affected : the cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla 
oblongata, medulla spinalis and nerves.* 
The Pathology of Paralysis . — The comparative anatomist and 
physiologist sees everything in health ; the comparative pathologist 
studies structures in disease, and traces the influence of a thousand 
agencies in producing and modifying disease. Who does not see the 
vast importance of understanding the nervous system ? Who of us 
has studied this subject, or had the opportunity of studying it as 
it ought to be studied, and as the subject deserves ? If we find our 
patient with hanging pendulous lips, and only with the greatest 
difficulty able to gather his food,, we say that there is a diminution 
or suspension of nervous influence in a branch of the portio dura 
of the seventh nerve for motion, and a division of the fifth nerve 
for sensation ; we may stimulate and give doses of nux vomica or 
strychnine for a long time, but without avail. Again, we are sent 
for to a case, and find the horse making a great noise in his breath- 
ing ; or it may be that as he stands still he makes no noise, his 
breathing and his pulse are quite tranquil ; but only approach him, 
or w alk him out, and immediately he begins to make an alarming 
noise in his breathing which seems to threaten immediate suffoca- 
tion. We say this state is dependent on a morbid condition of the 
crico-arytenoideus posticus, crico-arytenoideus lateralis and ary- 
tenoideus transversus. The one muscle is unable to open the 
glottis, and the others press together the arytenoid cartilages 
and close the glottis. We say further, this state of the muscles is 
the consequence of a diminution or suspension of nervous influence 
in the recurrent branch and the lachrymal branch of the parvagum 
nerve. We may bring to bear on this case our most improved 
treatment with little avail, and the mechanical relief of tracheo- 
tomy is the only help we can give. I have employed a seton on 
each side and another under the larynx, another eighteen inches 
long in front of the trachea, all at one time ; and also blistered six 
or eight times, given nux vomica, and enjoined total rest for a 
month, and on taking the horse out I have found him not one jot 
better. The disease is involved in much obscurity, and we ought to 
make an effort to get clearer views of its nature in order to arrive at 
a more successful method of treatment. 
The above examples are cases of partial paralysis, but we also 
find the disease affecting the system generally. Not many months 
ago, I was consulted as to a number of horses apparently in good 
1 We are compelled to omit the anatomical description of the brain and 
nerves, in order not to curtail the more important portion relating to 
pathology. 
