PARALYSIS OF THE HIND LIMB. 935 



based principally on the local changes. The crepitation sound is 

 the most trustworthy, for both the swelling and pain may be caused 

 by injury to the upper trochanter. 



Treatment. Recent cases, exhibiting acute inflammatory 

 symptoms, are best treated by absolute rest, and cold applications, 

 such as douches or refrigerant lotions. Where bruising of the hip 

 is plainly marked, warm fomentations may be more beneficial. 

 Blisters may afterwards be used, and, if unsuccessful, can be followed 

 by setons ; the actual cautery has been employed with good results. 

 Rest should be continued for some time after the disappearance 

 of lameness ; too early return to work is liable to be followed by 

 relapse. Some horses only recover sufficiently for light draught. 



VI. PARALYSIS OF THE HIND LIMB. 



The muscles of the hind limb receive their nerve supply from the 

 lumbo-sacral plexus. The principal nerves are (1) the iliaco-muscular, 

 (2) anterior and posterior gluteal, (3) anterior crural, (4) obturator, and (5) 

 the great sciatic. The iliaco-muscular nerves supply the psoas and iliacus 

 muscles ; the anterior gluteal nerves furnish branches to the three gluteal 

 muscles and the tensor vaginae femoris ; the posterior gluteal supply 

 parts of*the superficial and deep gluteal muscles, the biceps femoris, the 

 skin at the back of the thigh 4 or 5 inches below the tuber ischii, the semi- 

 tendinosus muscle, and give off a branch to the internal pudic, which 

 supplies the perineum. 



The anterior crural, the second largest nerve of the plexus, descends 

 between the psoas muscles to supply the sartorius and quadriceps extensor 

 cruris. It also furnishes sensory twigs to the inner surface of the thigh. 

 The obturator nerve follows the artery of the same name downwards and 

 backwards to the obturator foramen, through which it passes resting in a 

 groove on the antero-external margin, and on emerging from the pelvis it 

 supplies the obturator externus, adductor parvus, adductor magnus, 

 pectineus and gracilis muscles. 



The great sciatic nerve gives branches to the obturator internus, 

 pyriformis, gemelli, quadratus femoris, semi-membranosus, lower portion 

 of the biceps and semi-tendinosus muscles ; opposite the small sacro- 

 sciatic opening it gives origin to the external popliteal nerve, and, towards 

 the upper end of the gastrocnemius muscle, the external saphenous nerve. 

 The great sciatic is continued as the internal popliteal, which is again 

 continued by the posterior tibial nerve. The external popliteal, after 

 furnishing a branch to the biceps femoris, divides into the musculo-cutaneous 

 and anterior tibial nerves, which supply the extensor pedis, extensor brevis, 

 peroneus and flexor metatarsi muscles. The internal popliteal nerve 

 supplies both heads of the gastrocnemius, the soleus, popliteus, perforatus, 

 perforans, and flexor accessorius muscles. It is the sensory nerve for the 

 lower portions of the hind limb. 



A. Paralysis in the region supplied by the gluteal nerves. 



Few recorded cases of this kind exist. Franke reports an instance 



