CASES OF PALSY. 
493 
constantly while in action, and even while standing still, he must 
have been in danger of falling, from his legs “ slipping under 
him for the standing posture is only surely maintained by the 
continued action of the muscles implanted into the elbow. 
[To be continued.] 
CASES OF PALSY. 
By Air. John Younghusband, Greystuke. 
On the 24th May, 1842, I was requested to give my advice 
respecting a fine four-years-old cow of the short-horned breed, 
that had completely lost the use of her hind legs. On seeing 
my patient, and inquiring into the case, I learned that three 
weeks before she had gone through the process of parturition, and 
which had been difficult. Her udder was at that time extremely 
full, hard, and swollen, in which state it remained for two days, 
although she ate and ruminated well. On the third day she 
appeared more debilitated — her udder shrunk from its hardness — 
the secretion of milk stopped — she ceased to feed — and gradually 
lost the use of her hind parts, although she still retained it over 
her fore ones. In this state she was several times visited by a 
practitioner in the neighbourhood, who prescribed for her, and 
covered her loins with pitch and tar, and encouraged the owner 
by saying that in a short time she would be up again. 
To make the case short, I told him that I considered it one of 
palsy of the hind extremities, from the effects of difficult partu- 
rition, or, perhaps, from the sudden relaxation of the udder, the 
milk flying to more important parts, and that I considered her re- 
covery as very doubtful. 
He encouraged me, however, by saying he would give her the 
benefit of a trial. In our after treatment I tried purging, stimu- 
lants, external applications, and that great auxiliary, comfort. 
These failing, as a last resource, I resolved upon trying the 
effects of strychnine, which I gave twice a-day in five-grain 
doses, combined with aromatics and stimulants, and continuing it 
for awhile; but it shewing no marked effect, I increased it to 
eight grains, when, perhaps, from the effects of the stimulants, 
the appetite improved ; she seemed more cheerful, ruminated 
regularly, and by the use of her fore legs could turn over. I 
now thought there was some faint hope of recovery, but our hopes 
are often delusive. We continued the use of the remedy a week 
longer, when no amendment taking place and the animal get- 
