NEUROSES OF THE LARYNX. 
187 
(2.) NEUROSES OF THE LARYNX—SPASM OF THE 
RIMA GLOTTIDIS—SPASMUS GLOTT1DIS—LARYN¬ 
GISMUS STRIDULUS — LARYNGO-SPASMUS — 
HEMIPLEGIA AND DIPLEGIA LARYNGIS. 
These terms are applied to attacks of difficult breathing, occuning 
periodically, and apparently caused by spasmodic closure of the rima- 
glottidis. As a rule, the dyspnoea is inspiratory, and may occasionally 
be so severe as to constitute apnoea,—that is, temporary cessation of 
respiration. 
The causes consist either in direct irritation of the mucous membiane 
of the larynx, or in reflex irritation of the vagus and lecunent neives 
supplying the constrictors of the larynx. Records of many such cases 
have been published, but are seldom sufficient to determine the exact 
cause of the attack. Acute inflammatory changes, catarrh, oedema of 
the glottis, food materials, or foreign bodies in the upper air passages, 
have all been assigned as causes. Post-mortem examination has dis¬ 
covered tumours in the pharynx, larynx, or trachea, but true neuioses of 
the larynx are occasionally met with. 
Ebinger describes a horse suddenly attacked by severe dyspnoea, threatening 
suffocation, and accompanied by roaring. When at rest the breathing was 
normal and the health undisturbed, but the slightest work or pressure on the 
larynx, or indeed on any point of the neck above the jugular furrow, caused 
immediately severe dyspnoea and marked roaring, which continued during the 
next 8-10 respirations. Light pressure sufficed again to produce the attack. 
The symptoms disappeared after eight days’ treatment with subcutaneous 
injections of acetate of morphine. Ebinger, not without justification, believes 
this to have been a neurosis of the recurrent nerve. The cases described by 
Holzendorf and Neumann as spasm of the larynx, or cramp of the muscles 
of the glottis, may have been due to other causes. In that recorded by 
Holzendorf, inflammatory disease of the larynx was clearly present; while 
the obstinate dyspnoea treated by Neumann does not appear to have been 
^Moher saw similar cases, apparently of neuropathic origin, m otherwise 
healthy horses ; Seffner during recovery from acute bronchitis.. 
Kino' and Robertson referred similar attacks to ingestion of certain 
leguminous seeds, which they consider had a specific action on the recurrent 
Penberthy regards the condition as bronchial asthma, in which inhalations 
of chloroform and amyl nitrite might be useful. 
Trumbower describes six cases of spasm of the larynx in horses winch 
worked together in the same field.. Heath occurred m a few hours. Post¬ 
mortem examination showed the existence of acute laryngitis. 
When danger of suffocation is associated with these conditions, 
tracheotomy must be resorted to at once. It is further noteworthy that 
the inspiratory dyspnoea is increased by the anxiety and unrest associated 
with it. All excitement must, therefore, be avoided, the horse placed in 
