Treatment. This will be along the same lines as in myelitis, being aimed at elimination of toxic matters, and the counteracting of the existing inflammation. Anodynes such as bromides and chloral and cold water or ice are especially called for to alleviate pain and hyperæsthesia, and antispasmodics like ether, chloroform, chloral, belladonna, etc., to allay the spasm. Saline purgatives too, and diuretics may be availed of to limit effusion and favor reabsorption. In the advanced stages iodine may be freely applied to the spine, and an occasional electric current, or cauterization may be availed of.
ACUTE MYELITIS IN THE DOG. MENINGO-MYELITIS.
Causes: distemper, in long-haired pets, pyæmia, exposure to cold, violent overexertion, traumas, vertebral caries or abscess. Lesions: in lumbar enlargement, horns yellowish, red, friable, pultaceous, leucocytes in excess, punctiform extravasations, neurons opaque; granular, filaments diffluent, varicose, sclerosis. Meninges congested, thickened. Symptoms: as in horse, extreme hyperæsthesia, later anæsthesia, tremors or twitching, later paraplegia. Treatment: Laxatives, ice bags, sedatives, later derivatives, cauterization. During convalescence, phosphates, iron, zinc, strychnia. Attend to bladder and rectum, light, laxative diet, pure air and water.
Causes. This disease is a common result of distemper and according to Trasbot, is much more frequent in long-haired and pet dogs than in the short-haired and mongrels. The shelter of the hair, like the warm indoor atmosphere, seems to contribute to a special sensitiveness of the cutaneous and nervous tissues. The infective inflammation of the myel is also seen in pyæmia, rabies and milk sickness. It appears to be further induced by exposure to cold draughts when heated, or excited, by plunging into ice cold water, by lying on cold, damp, stone pavement or metallic plates. Violent overexertion, excessive fatigue, and a variety of traumatisms are further factors. Kicks, blows on the back, concussion from falling from a window or other height, and sprains received in fighting or otherwise, are common causes. Disease of the vertebræ or abscesses in their vicinity will sometimes extend to the meninges and cord.
Lesions. These are like those in the larger animals, being to a large extent determined by the cause and nature of the lesion, concussion, sprain, fracture, pyæmic, septicæmic, or other infection. The implication of the myel to the exclusion of the meninges is very frequent and the lumbar enlargement is the most common seat of disease. Localization in the brachial enlargement or in one lateral half of the cord is uncommon. The gray matter towards the extremity of the horn is the most commonly involved, reflecting a yellowish, grayish red or deep red color, and breaking down into a pultaceous mass on the slightest pressure. At an advanced stage the altered coloring matter gives to the tissue a brownish yellow color without altering its consistency. The still vital and vascular area around the centre of softening may be slightly swollen and abnormally firm. The neuroglia is the seat of leucocytosis, and minute (usually punctiform) extravasations of blood. The red globules are crenated or otherwise distorted and the white are granular and opaque. The neurons are swollen, granular and opaque and the nerve fibres are more or less diffluent, moniliform and in their substance show no clear outline of white substance and axis cylinder. Interruptions by granule masses and vacuoles are common. In old standing or chronic cases the liquid exudate and granular debris have been largely absorbed and the thickening of the neuroglia by fibrous neoplasm, has restored the firmness or even approximated the part to a condition of sclerosis.
In case the meninges are involved there is thickening by exudation into their substance or on their surface, there may be adhesion between the outer and inner layers of the arachnoid and a serous fluid, red, milky or clear, distends the arachnoid or subarachnoid space. The false membranes, here as elsewhere, are usually red if recent, and increase in pallor with age.
Symptoms. These are in the main the same as in the larger animals. The early excitement usually takes the form of hyperæsthesia. When lifted, pressed, touched or only approached the dog may growl, howl, snap, cringe, cower or tremble, glancing up meanwhile with anxious or pleading eyes. When later, this gives place to anæsthesia no such interference will draw a response. The motor disorders at the outset are mostly of the nature of tremors or twitching of the muscles of the limbs or of those parts of the trunk corresponding to the seat of the lesion. In exceptional cases spasms or convulsions may be shown. Trasbot records a case of very acute myelitis of the brachial enlargement in which there were clonic contractions of the muscles of the neck, jaws and eyeballs, and grinding of the teeth, which condition lasted for thirty-six hours. When this motor excitement merges into paralysis it usually attacks the hind limbs which are extended backward helpless while the animal pulls himself forward by his fore limbs. Some such cases are restless and in continual movement while others are dull, apathetic and indisposed to move. The precise seat of the paresis or paralysis will be determined by the seat of the lesion as in the larger animals. Thus paraplegia is most common, less frequently hemiplegia, palsy of the fore limb, palsy of a single limb, and monoplegias, about in the order named. Palsy of the tail and sphincters implies a lesion of the lumbar section of the cord and is very offensive in the incontinence of urine and fæces especially in long-haired subjects.
Treatment. The abstraction of blood is rarely called for in myelitis in the dog. If admissible at all it is in the case of strong, vigorous, plethoric animals which have been attacked in connection with sudden exposure to cold or accidental concussion, and which are presented for treatment at once. Then leeches may be applied to the abdomen or inside of the thigh, or the jugular may be opened with a lancet. Usually on the other hand the patient is fat, lymphatic, and, if a few days have elapsed, even anæmic, while if he has been the victim of an accident the shock and prostration would forbid any depressive measures.
Derivation toward the bowels may be sought by purgative doses of calomel or jalap. In case of high fever, cold may be applied (in the form of icebags, evaporating lotions or wet cloths) to the tender portion of the spine. If the attack has followed exposure to cold, salicylate of soda may be given, otherwise the bromide of potassium or camphor. Acetanilid and other antithermic agents may be used with caution.
With the abatement of the high fever and the supervention of paresis, if not before, counter-irritants are demanded.