942 ORURAL PARALYSIS. 



nerves were affected. The symptoms due to injury of the external 

 popliteal were more marked because the function of the muscles 

 Bupplied by the internal popliteal (gastrocnemius, flexor perforans, 

 perforatus, &c.) was partially replaced by their tendinous apparatus ; 

 this explains why weight could still be borne on the limb. 



The prognosis should be reserved. It is more hopeful where the 

 loss of power arises from bruising or evident local injury; but in 

 most cases complete recovery is problematical. 



Treatment. For a few weeks at the beginning rest should be 

 prescribed ; later, progressive exercise may be encouraged. Counter- 

 irritation applied over the affected muscles and those which appear 

 atrophied, followed by massage of the region, is often beneficial. 

 Bouley cured one case, and Cadiot another, in three weeks, by 

 blistering and exercise. Turning the patient into a small paddock 

 for two or three months, after blistering, has given good results. 



D. Paralysis of the anterior crural nerve and quadriceps femoris muscle. 

 Rupture of the rectus femoris and vasti muscles, and of the straight ligaments 

 of the patella. 



Though paralysis of the crural or anterior femoral nerve is not 

 common, yet in animals it occurs oftener than is generally believed. 

 Sometimes it accompanies hsemoglobinuria, sometimes it is produced 

 by strain, by partial rupture following on falls, or by violently kicking 

 backward. Moller saw six cases in horses drawing heavy loads, 

 and many more, as a sequel to hsemoglobinuria. Its connection 

 with this disease is explained by the fact that the crural nerve passes 

 between the psoas and iliacus muscles, which in hsemoglobinuria 

 seem particularly involved. Although it is possible that myopathic 

 lameness of the rectus and vasti muscles occurs in hsemoglobinuria, 

 yet the greater number of such cases are probably due to disease of 

 the nerve indicated, because in nearly every instance the loss of 

 f miction and excessive atrophy are common to all the muscles attached 

 to the patella, and in a similar degree, a condition scarcely to be 

 expected in a purely muscular disease. The sudden onset and equally 

 rapid disappearance of the disease, as well as the total want of 

 inflammatory symptoms, support this view. Where disturbance 

 of sensation on the inner surface of the thigh exists, there can be little 

 doubt of the nature of the disease. Goubaux experimentally divided 

 the nerve high up in the thigh, between the vastus internus and rectus 

 femoris, and thus obtained all the symptoms of muscular paralysis 

 peculiar to hsemoglobinuria. Other conditions, like psoas abscess, 

 tumour formation, haemorrhage, &c, may also destroy the function 

 of this nerve temporarily or permanently. 



