268 
TREATMENT OF PARALYSIS WITH STRYCHNIA. 
In 1858 I had under treatment a valuable Arab charger 
affected with hemiplegia. The symptoms were drooping of 
the off ear; partial loss of the use of the off fore and off hind 
legs, the feet being dragged along the ground when walking; 
atrophy of the muscles of the off side ; and drawing of the 
tail to the near side. The animal could not walk in a straight 
line, and if he attempted to trot was certain to fall down. 
The appetite and general health were good. The patient had 
been in this state for about two months before I saw him. 
There was no assignable cause for the disease, except fatigue 
and exposure on the campaign. 
I administered strychnia, beginning with half-grain doses 
twice a day, and gradually increasing the quantity until it 
reached three grains. After persevering in this treatment for 
about tv o months, during which I had sometimes to stop the 
medicine for a day or two, a perfect cure was effected, and the 
horse went to work again. 
Last year I had two troopers affected with paraplegia, the 
animals being partially paralysed from the loins backwards. 
They could not turn except in a large circle, and then only 
at the risk of falling. They had no control over the 
action of the hind legs, and could merely attempt to advance 
them. Both were treated with strychnia, and were at 
their duty again in about two months. 
Another case was so severe that the horse was down and 
unable to rise. He had strychnia administered, and re- 
covered so far as to be able to rise and stand upon his 
legs, and, after some further time, to walk and trot. The 
horse, however, was not sufficiently restored to be able to 
carry a man and keep up with the other horses at a gallop. 
In all the above cases, except the first, mustard plasters were 
applied to the loins, followed by fresh sheepskins. 
In advocating the use of strychnia, I am aware that I am 
not introducing anything new. I am, however, so convinced of 
its efficacy in cases of paralysis, that I think it but right to add 
the result of my experience to that of others, to prove that 
this valuable agent deserves a full and fair trial. 
I intend to try Indian hemp with the first case of tetanus 
that comes under my treatment, but I confess that I do 
not anticipate much, if any, success. Traumatic tetanus 
seldom yields to any mode of treatment, either in the human 
subject or the horse. Of this we have had a sad illustration 
here lately; an officer received an injury in one of his hands, 
tetanus set in, and resulted in death forty-eight hours after 
its first appearance. 
As the immediate effect of taking Hieing or Indian hemp is 
