530 



SUTHEKLAND SIMPSON 



Stiffness of the limbs, of the nature of an extensor spasm, is often pres- 

 ent early, and is increased with voluntary movements. In cats it is rarely 

 severe. This muscular stiffness may be manifested by straddling the hind 

 legs in walking. Paton and Findlay corroborate Morel in the statement 

 that in young dogs this extensor spasm is the prominent motor symptom, 

 and that it may be unaccompanied by any trace of tremors or jerkings. 

 This condition, in the absence of muscular twitchings, "more closely 

 approaches the carpopedal spasm of clinical tetany than does any other 

 stage of tetania parathyreopriva." 



Fif. 4. TTand of monkey, dead after thyroparathyroidectomy, from radial and 

 from ulnar sides. (Noel Paton and Findlay. ) 



While extensor spasm is most common in dogs and cats, in monkeys 

 flexion of the hand and wrist, with adduction of the thumb, may be pres- 

 ent; this is the position sometimes taken by the hand in cases of idiopathic 

 tetany in man (Fig. 4). 



This stiffness of the muscles, often associated with muscular tremors, 

 appears very early in the cat. It gives rise to movements of the foot, such 

 as are made by the normal animal in attempting to shake water off its pads. 

 This ''water shaking" or "paw shaking" is one of the most characteristic 

 features in the oat and is nearly always observed at some stage of the con- 

 dition, frequently appearing when voluntary movements are made. The 

 muscular tremors in the eat are sometimes marked by the extensor spasms. 



The coarse, chorea-like muscular jerkings are usually more prominent 



