RADIAL PARALYSIS IN THE HORSE. 65 



In my portion of the hospital you have seen three other horses 

 affected with this condition. 



At the commencement of last March, a seven-year-old mare with 

 paralysis of the left radial nerve, of unknown origin, was left for treat- 

 ment. Having suffered, two months before, from pneumonia, this 

 mare had returned to work without showing any after effects. One 

 morning she was found standing on three legs, quite unable to place 

 weight on the near fore-leg. The coachman, who had driven her the 

 day before, declared that she had neither slipped nor fallen. 



When at rest the peculiar position of the near fore-limb was strik- 

 ing. The joints were flexed, the extensor muscles of the forearm sunk 

 in, the elbow dropped, and the angle of the shoulder-joint straightened. 

 In consequence of the fetlock being flexed, only the toe of the foot 

 rested on the ground. During movement these symptoms became 

 more marked ; when attempts were made to place weight on the limb 

 the leg collapsed, the point of the elbow descended to an excessive 

 degree. The fetlock was markedly flexed, and almost touched the 

 ground. Sensation was preserved in all parts. The paralysis espe- 

 cially affected the extensors of the forearm, canon -bone, and phalanges. 

 The case was one of radial paralysis, caused, without doubt, by a slip in 

 the stable. 



The muscles supplied by the radial were blistered, and two drachms 

 of iodide of potash given daily in the food. During the first week there 

 was not the least improvement. At the commencement of the third 

 week a further blister was applied. Although walking was still very 

 painful, the patient was exercised night and morning. On the first 

 occasion it had great difficulty in advancing, but each day the distance 

 was increased, and distinct improvement soon occurred. In a week 

 remarkable progress had been made. The animal still went lame, but 

 the limb was hardly flexed at the moment when weight was placed on 

 it. Cure was complete in a month. 



In November, 1897, we treated a fifteen-year-old mare affected with 

 radial paralysis, which had appeared immediately after a fall. While 

 drawing a cart loaded with a cow the mare stumbled and fell forwards. 

 On being unharnessed and lifted she had great dii^culty in placing any 

 weight on the off fore-limb. As the accident happened close to the 

 School, the injured animal was brought in. 



The off fore-limb was rested on the toe, the fetlock and knee were 

 flexed, the scapulo-humeral angle was excessively open, and the elbow 

 dropped. Inside the upper part of the forearm was a slightly painful 

 swelling, the size of a man's fist, which showed no fluctuation or 

 crepitation such as is usual when blood is extravasated. The muscles 



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