132 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



PARALYSIS OF THE CAUDA EQUINA 



Injuries inflicted to horses in the region of the croup, 

 that are of sufficient violence, at times result in hemor- 

 rhages into the neural canal. At other times fractures 

 of the caudal vertebrae inflict direct injury upon the ter- 

 minal portion of the spinal cord. As a result of such 

 injuries or hemorrhages there occurs a chronic intersti- 

 tial inflammatory process, accompanied by the formation 

 of variable amounts of fibrous tissue. Paralysis of the 

 taU, and at times of the anal and vesical sphincters, fol- 

 lows. The tail hangs loosely and flops about when the 

 animal is trotted. There is total loss of motor power in 

 the tail. In some eases this is only unilateral; the horse 

 is able to switch flies on one side only. When there is 

 also a paralysis of the anal and vesical sphincter the case 

 is, indeed, a complicated one. The rectum becomes 

 blocked with feces in its posterior portion, some of which 

 drop out during movement of the horse at rapid gaits. 

 The urine dribbles away constantly. There is also loss of 

 sensation in a limited area in the region of the anus, 

 which can be demonstrated by pricking with a sharp 

 instrument. 



The prognosis is very unfavorable, as the condition 

 becomes aggravated from month to month in most cases. 

 As a result of involvement of the posterior portion of 

 the rectum, there is rectal impaction, from which the ani- 

 mal suffers almost constant distress and sometimes colicky 

 pains. Cystitis may develop in a serious form from in- 

 volvement of the bladder. At the end of a few months, 

 or a year at most, the horse is useless. 



Treatment. In most cases this is of no avail. An occa- 

 sional case may become stationary at the end of a month 

 or six weeks, and the paralytic symptoms may slowly 

 clear up. Most eases, however, become progressively 



