Paralysis of the Femoral Nerve. 



745 



being pressure on the nerve by a larval Hypoderma, while in one par- 

 ticular ease the paralysis was caused by pressure on the nerve by a 

 loop in a hobble-shank. Uhart believes that in the case in a horse 

 recorded by him the cause was a false step. 



In cases of complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve the 

 animal is unable to flex the hock and to extend the other joints of the 

 limb. When the leg is advanced the toes drag along the ground; and 

 when weight is put upon the leg, the foot rests with the dorsal surface 

 of the toes on the ground (fig. 

 108). If the phalangeal joints 

 are extended passively, the leg 

 is capable of supporting the 

 weight properly. According to 

 Giinther, the position occupied by 

 the pastern in the horse is more 

 vertical. If the paralysis ])e in- 

 complete, the animal stumbles a 

 lot during movement, and espe- 

 cially on uneven ground ; and all 

 the joints of the affected limb are 

 flexed at the instant that v/eight 

 falls on the leg. In the later 

 stages, in order to avoid stum- 

 ])ling, the foot is intentionally 

 lifted higher and set do^^^l quick- 

 ly- 



There may be no sensory dis- 

 turbance but in many cases there 

 is anethesia of the antero-lateral 

 surface of the lower thigh and 

 metatarsus. Atrophy of the mus- 

 cles and absence of reflexes may 

 be observed. 



Paralysis due to injury gen- 

 erally disappears within a few 

 weeks but may persist longer. 



Literature. Darrou, Eev. Yet., 

 1902, 586.— Meoni, J. Vet., 190-'^, 

 166.— Szidon, Vet., 1898, 129.— Uhart 

 Eec, 1905, 291. 



Fig. 108. Paralysis of the peroneal 

 nerve in a case of do urine. 



11. Paralysis of the Femoral Nerve. 



Occurrence. Paralysis of the femoral nerve in the lower 

 animals is of very rare occurrence owing to the protected posi- 

 tion occupied by the nerve. 



Occasionally there is paralysis of the quadriceps femoris in the horse after 

 an attack of hemoglobinuria, which is due to a primary diffuse degeneration of 

 the muscles. According to Frohuer the majority of cases in the horse described 

 as paralysis of the femoral nerve are in reality cases of primary muscular de- 

 generation. 



