PARALYSIS OF THE HIND LIMP. 
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treatment. The absence of anaesthesia and of muscular atrophy pointed 
to its cerebral nature. 
Up to the present little is known of the course of these paralyses. 
Though Moller’s case of internal popliteal paralysis appeared incurable, 
the case of sciatic paralysis in the dog produced by a fall improved so 
much in fourteen days as to warrant expectation of complete recovery. 
The two other cases were removed from observation, but appeared 
favourable, the disease not being of old standing. 
The causes are : disease of the brain or spinal cord, or lesions in 
the course of the nerves. Disease of the spinal cord usually produces 
double-sided paralysis (paraplegia). The above case of internal popliteal 
paralysis appears to have been due to anatomical changes in the nerve 
during its course between the gastrocnemii. In dogs sciatic paralysis 
is produced both by wounds and by general disease like distemper. 
Albert found, on post-mortem examination of a horse which had been 
treated for three months without effect, the residuum of a blood 
extravasation surrounding the nerve at the point where it left the 
pelvic cavity. The tissues below this point were atrophied, and the 
muscles, especially the M. rectus femoris, had undergone extensive 
fatty degeneration. 
The prognosis must depend on the condition indicated. In recent 
cases, where the only apparent cause is chill, and in those due to falls 
and sprains, the prognosis is more favourable than in old-standing cases 
with marked muscular atrophy. In incomplete paralysis the forecast is 
more favourable, but in complete sciatic lameness the outlook is bad, 
especially if there be local anaesthesia. Recovery is still possible where 
sensibility and irritability to the Faradic electric current is preserved. 
C. 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 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 
hemoglobinuria. Its connection with this disease is explained by the 
fact that the crural nerve passes through the ileo-psoas muscle, which 
in hemoglobinuria seems particularly involved. Although it is possible 
that myopathic lameness of the rectus and vasti muscles occurs in 
hemoglobinuria, yet the greater number of such cases are probably 
due to disease of the nerve indicated, because in nearly every instance 
the loss of function and excessive atrophy are common to all the 
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v.s. 
