PARALYSIS OF THE OBTURATOR NERVE. 945 



patella. The condition had resulted from one cow attempting to mount 

 another. 



Course. Whilst the paralysis accompanying hemoglobinuria is 

 generally obstinate, indeed sometimes incurable, that produced by 

 severe mechanical strain occasionally disappears hi a few days. 

 Moller saw three cases of the latter kind recover in six, twenty, and 

 forty -two days respectively, and two others after a short interval ; 

 one case appeared incurable. When this paralysis is complete and 

 the horse can only be kept standing in slings, recovery is usually 

 hopeless ; but recent and partial crural paralysis, however caused, 

 may be expected to make a useful recovery. Dollar and others have 

 seen complete recovery from the paralysis following hemoglobinuria, 

 though the cases have lasted many months. The horses were turned 

 out to grass. 



Treatment of crural paralysis must follow general principles. The 

 use of the electric current, and especially of the Faradic current, is 

 very difficult in the horse, and can seldom be advantageously resorted 

 to. The position of the crural nerve also prevents its being directly 

 reached, and treatment is therefore confined to, as far as possible, 

 checking atrophy, and improving nutrition in the paralysed muscles. 

 Massage, in the form of kneading and beating, is of great value for 

 this purpose, and should, if possible, be applied daily. In obstinate 

 cases Dollar has several times had excellent results from deep point 

 firing over the affected region. Repeated blistering is useful. 

 Exercise, in addition to favouring regenerative changes in the affected 

 nerve, assists circulation and nutrition in the muscles. In dogs the 

 induced electric current may be employed. Intra-muscular injections 

 of veratrin or strychine, and iodide of potassium and strychnhib 

 administered internally have also been recommended. 



The treatment of ruptures consists in absolute rest, the provision 

 of plentiful bedding, and in turning the animal with sufficient frequency 

 to prevent bed-sores ; in some cases slinging the horse may be 

 advantageous. 



E. Paralysis of the obturator nerve. 



Obturator paralysis has several times been reported as following 

 tumour formation hi the course of the nerve, especially in grey or 

 white horses, the subjects of melanosis. It is characterised by loss 

 of function in the adductors, the pectineus and gracilis muscles, 

 and inability to adduct the limb. The condition sometimes is 

 diagnosed with difficulty, because it presents none of the marked 

 symptoms seen in other paralyses, and because its occurrence is 

 frequently marked by symptoms of pubic fracture, in which, owing 



