828 



Dourine. 



occurs frequently sometimes in spite of its long existence with- 

 out leading to a demonstrable atrophy of the posterior muscles. 

 The apliincter muscles of the anus and the bladder are not 

 paralyzed. 



The superficial reflexes are increased over the region of 

 the hyperesthesia, but they become weaker after the appearance 

 of the muscular paralysis and finally disappear entirely. The 

 tendinous reflexes, corresponding to the affected nerves, are 

 diminished from the beginning or entirely absent, especially 

 the patellar reflex. The electrical irritability of the nerves 

 and muscles is likewise reduced in the regions of the paralysis 

 or a partial and even a total degeneration reaction may be 

 established (Marek). 



Tlie SATnptoms of paralysis diminish sometimes consider- 

 ably after several weeks and may disappear entirely, even 



Fig. 147. Doiirhir. Paraparesis in .an affected mare. (Snaiisliot.) 



wlieii a degeneration reaction had previously been ascertained. 

 In other cases they become more aggravated, tlie withering 

 muscles l)ecome markedly atrophied, and finally the paralysis 

 of the hind parts reaches such a degree that the animals are 

 no longer capable of rising from the ground. 



Frequently affections of certain joints and tendons become 

 associated with the nervous symptoms. The hock joint, more 

 rarely the fetlock joints, or some articulations of tlie front legs, 

 swell from da)^ to day, together with the corresponding 

 tendinous sheatlis. The swellings are produced by the ac- 

 cumulation of a large quantity of fluid in the synovial cap- 

 sule or in the tendinous sheath, but at the same time there 

 are no inflammatory s}anptoms perceptible. On palpation they 



