PARALYSIS IN THE HORSE. 
7 
however, sensation in both of them, on pricking him with a pin, &c. 
I told the owner that it was probable the horse was suffering from 
paralysis; but if so, it was only partial, and that there was a chance for 
him. I took this view of the case from the manner in which it com¬ 
menced and the absence of any appearance of external injury, and I de¬ 
termined upon trying the effects of strychnine upon him. I therefore sent 
two 3-grain doses of it, combined with some laxative and fever medicine, 
one dose to be given at night, the other in the morning, and also a blister 
for his back and loins, promising to see him the next day. Nov. 21st, I 
found him much the same, with a little more power in the hind legs, and 
upon examining his back, I found a large swelling on the right side of 
the spine, about opposite the last lumbar vertebra, and I at once came 
to the conclusion that the horse was not suffering from pure paralysis, 
but that he had received an injury either from a sudden strain or inor¬ 
dinate muscular contraction, giving rise either to fracture of one of the 
processes of the vertebra, or the superior posterior spinous process of 
the ileum, which by pressing on the crural nerve had caused the partial 
state of paralysis. I told the owner that, as the horse was young and his 
appetite and spirits good, it would probably be only a question of time 
for his recovery, but I expressed at the same time a doubt that the 
wounds on the projecting portions of his body, from lying so long on one 
side and struggling, would lead to something serious. I discontinued the 
strychnine, and as the bowels were costive, I gave more laxative medi¬ 
cine, combined with febrifuges, and applied some liniment to the swelling 
alluded to ; had him frequently turned, and his wounds dressed with arnica 
lotion : his general comfort was attended to, and as he did not micturate 
with facility, I withdrew the urine from time to time by means of the 
catheter. 
This treatment was carried out with little variation up to the 25th, 
when, by my orders, they got him into slings, and he stood well on all 
his legs except the off hind, on which, however, he bore a little weight 
once. On the afternoon of the 26th I saw him again. The right side 
being uppermost, the hip presented a fearful spectacle. There was a 
wound as large as the crown of a hat; all the skin over the part was 
dead, and ooxing from underneath the margin was a large quantity 
of a sero-sanguineous fluid of a fetid odour, the healthy skin [being 
separated for some distance all around, and the serum being infiltrated 
underneath it to the other side of the spine. Yet his appetite re¬ 
mained good, and he was very cheerful, but with a peculiar expression 
about the eyes and countenance. The pulse, however,'was quick and 
wavering, and the mucous membranes much injected and tinged yellow; 
he also evinced pain about the hip by throwing his head up and looking 
at it. I may mention that they had again attempted to raise him in the 
morning, but had failed ; and as there was no perceptible improvement, 
I informed the owner that the case was hopeless, but as reluctance was 
manifested to have him destroyed, I did all in my power to alleviate the 
pain by applying hot fomentations and antiseptics externally, and ad¬ 
ministering sedatives and cordial medicines internally. 
27th. I was astonished to find the horse still alive, but he was gradually 
getting worse. The same measures, by way of treatment, were adopted 
as yesterday. 
28th. This morning, on visiting him, I found him dead, having died 
about 6 a.in. I at once proceeded to make a post-mortem examination, 
the following being the result:—All the muscles surrounding the hip 
for some distance "were in a state of decomposition, and their tissue 
easily broken up. This spliacelitic action had extended through and in^ 
