136 
PALSY IN HORSES. 
flesh, and hardy, was observed by me to have an unhealthy- 
looking coat towards the end of the summer ; and some time after, 
on being ridden a few miles, she was found to stop two or three 
times, and strain, as though she wanted to dung, but went on 
again. Next day I was consulted : there was no uneasiness 
or fever present, but on examining the rectum I found it filled 
with hard dung; indeed, to such a degree, that its removal by 
the natural means was impossible. I removed it with my hand, 
and administered purgative drenches without effect, for two or 
three days ; and when at length the dung was liquefied, it passed 
involuntarily away for some days, and then became impacted as 
before. I now discovered that the bladder was paralyzed, as 
also were the muscles of the tail and croup, to a certain extent, 
and more on one side than on the other, and to such an extent 
she was insensible of pricking with a pin. Soon afterwards it 
was found that the muscles of her jaws were affected, so that 
she could hardly masticate her food, and not at all for some time 
after any exertion in the way of exercise. 
Her upper lip also was drawn on one side, and the under one 
on the other, so that she could neither collect her food nor 
masticate it, and was kept alive with slops. In this state she 
was given up to me for experiment, and, however anxious for a 
post-mortem examination, I kept her on, until by degrees she 
became better in every respect, so that she could feed and dis- 
charge her dung when a certain quantity was collected, and also 
her urine. Her tail was no longer tossed up and down when she 
was made to trot, but was now drawn on one side. In this state 
I gave her to an infirm old man, on certain conditions, in whose 
possession she broke her pasture, crossed some fields to a cart- 
horse, and tvas impregnated. In the following spring she dropped 
a weakly foal, which died after a few weeks, and the mare soon 
afterwards, from inflammation of the bowels. Of my treatment 
I kept no record, but it was principally laxatives and tonics, 
with stimulating applications, even liquid blister, within the 
rectum and sheath, and round about externally, without any 
perceptible effect. 
An aged gelding was placed under my care for a paralytic 
affection of the hind parts, which did not prevent his walking, 
but if started on the trot he would reel and be in danger of 
falling backwards ; this was accompanied by a profuse per- 
spiration about the buttocks, and a drawing of the tail on one 
side. Supposing it to be a spinal affection, I inserted setons, and 
kept his loins covered with sheep-skins. I also bled him, and 
administered purgative medicines, but all to no purpose. Some 
time afterwards he was given up for experiment, by which period. 
