754 



DISEASES OF THE TAIL. 



Dexlcr found the following appearance on the post-mortem examination 

 of a case : The sacral portion of the muscles of the tail showed marked 

 fatty degeneration, and the muscular bundles were of a pale yellow colour. 

 The muscles of the tail proper were pale, transparent and cedematous. 

 The rectum was greatly dilated. The mucous membrane of the bladder 

 was swollen, yellowish-red in colour, and uneven. From the last lumbar 



vertebra onwards the epidural fat rapidly 

 diminished in quantity and finally dis- 

 appeared ; from the first sacral vertebra 

 to its termination the spinal canal was 

 filled with a greyish- white, firm growth of 

 such dimensions that it could scarcely 

 be extracted, except in fragments. 

 Microscopically, this growth consisted 

 of connective tissue, partly interposed 

 between the nerve bundles and partly 

 surrounding the nerve stems. The 

 calibre of the vessels was greatly dimin- 

 ished in consequence of thickening of the 

 tunica intima. The nerve elements had 

 undergone partial fatty degeneration. 

 The spinal ganglia in the lumbar and 

 sacral regions showed marked increase 

 of the interstitial material and complete 

 degeneration of the nerve elements. 

 The condition, therefore, consisted in 

 an inflammation of the cauda equina. 



Fig. 451. Fig. 452. 



The process secondarily affected the nerve trunks and spinal ganglia 

 and led to degeneration of the muscular groups served by them. 



Prognosis is unfavourable, as treatment has hitherto proved 

 powerless against this gradually progressive disease. In most cases 

 stimulants, tonics, and even electricity will be found useless. Roder 

 gave strychnine without success. The animal gradually becomes 

 worse, finally unworkable, and has to be killed. A mare seen by 

 Deigendesch died from rupture of the bladder. 



