730 
J. M. CHASE. 
Next we come to another form of paralysis'of the poste¬ 
rior parts of the body. Under this head of paraplegia come 
spinal meningitis and myelitis. Paralysis of the posterior 
extremities is usually due to some injury or inflammation af¬ 
fecting the spinal cord. Symptoms of paraplegia are easily 
recognized by a weakness and imperfect control of the hind 
legs, a powerless tail, and the passage of urine and fasces is 
done without any voluntary action, showing a loss of nerve 
force in the parts posterior to the seat of injury or disease. 
There are also likely to form large ulcers and sores on hips 
and sides of body, which weaken the animal very rapidly and 
hasten final dissolution. 
Next 1 shall give a short account of the causes, symptoms, 
pathology and treatment of spinal meningitis as it occurs in 
our patients. It is due to irritant properties of blood poisons, 
exhaustion or exposure, spinal concussions or injuries of any 
kind to the spine, tumors, caries of the vertebras, rheuma¬ 
tism, and it may be in the form of an epidemic. The usual 
symptoms are ushered in by a chill, a rise of temperature, 
general weakness and a disposition to be uneasy and shift 
position of legs. Soon a painful convulsive twitching of the 
muscles sets in, followed by muscular rigidity along the spine, 
and upon attempting to move the animal stiffness and great 
pain will be evinced. Retention or incontinence of urine and 
often sexual excitement is present. 
The characteristic symptoms of spinal meningitis are a 
high fever and spinal symptoms in the early stages of the dis¬ 
ease, which usually become chronic after a time. 
There will be an effusion of serum between the membranes of 
the cord, which becomes plastic and adheres to the piamater, 
which serves to maintain a state of paralysis for a long time 
after the acute symptoms have passed off. Finally, atrophy, 
softening, and even abscess, may develop within the cord. 
Bags filled with ice should be applied along the spine, to 
be followed later with strong blisters. The fever should be 
controlled with antifebrine, aconite, or Norwood’s tincture 
of veratrum viridi, in twenty-minim doses every hour, together 
with dram doses of extract of belladonna every six hours 
