A CASE OF HEMIPLEGIA IN A HORSE. 
153 
I was informed by the groom, that on the previous morning he 
had found the horse loose in his stall, with the collar chain broken. 
The chain was repaired, and the horse tied up at night with it 
and an extra new halter. On entering the stable in the morning 
he found the horse lying with his “ head where his tail should be,” 
and apparently in a senseless and dying state. With considera- 
ble assistance he was raised, and soon afterwards exhibited the 
following symptoms : — 
He was standing with his legs wide apart, supporting himself 
with difficulty, and, when any attempt was made to move him, 
he reeled and staggered like a drunken man. On examin- 
ing the head I found marks of injury on the right orbit, and the 
right eye presented the same appearance as when the animal is 
affected with tetanus. The left ear was drooping, and the ani- 
mal had lost the power of moving it. The left eyelid was also 
pendulous, and the eye appeared partially closed. The pulse was 
60, and full ; but the respiration was not in the slightest degree 
affected. 
The horse exhibited evident signs of terror when made to ap- 
proach the manger, and finding, upon inquiry, that the hayloft 
above was infested with rats, and that they had been seen to 
come down into the racks and mangers, I naturally concluded 
that the horse, being frightened by one of those vermin, had 
reared up, and, the collar and halter giving way, had fallen back 
upon his head, and received an injury which caused partial pa- 
ralysis. 
I abstracted twelve pounds of blood, and administered a brisk 
dose of cathartic medicine. The horse now continually kept his 
head turned to the left side, and the masseter and buccinator 
muscles on that side had lost their power. 
On the third day 1 abstracted ten pounds of blood, and gave 
a laxative ball. I also recommended the use of laxative medicine 
internally, and the application of setons and a blister to the head ; 
but the owner, on ascertaining that there was no danger of the 
immediate death of the animal, objected to any further treatment, 
as he wished to see what nature would effect in this case. I 
therefore confined my attention to the animal’s diet, allowing no 
hay, keeping him entirely on soft food, and the bowels being in a 
laxative state. 
A few days afterwards I got several men on each side of the 
horse, and had him led out for about a quarter of an hour. It 
was with great difficulty that he was prevented from falling. On 
the next day the exercise was repeated, and he went a little bet- 
ter ; and, on a daily repetition of the walking, he gradually im- 
proved, and the groom is now able to ride him out two or three 
VOL. XV. X 
