67 6 
PARALYSIS OF THE HIND LIMB. 
three and four weeks respectively, the horses improved sufficiently to return 
home. 
Voigtlander confirmed his diagnosis of rupture of the straight patellar liga¬ 
ments in an ox by post-mortem examination. The inability to stand, severe 
inflammation of the stifle-joint, marked flexion of the limb, and inability to 
extend or bear weight on it, and the relaxation of the affected ligaments, left 
little doubt of the character of the injury, even during life. Voigtlander saw 
a cow with rupture of the inner and middle straight ligaments, and of the 
inner lateral ligament, and outward luxation of the patella. The condition 
had resulted from one cow attempting to mount another. 
The prognosis depends principally on the severity of the symptoms. 
When pain is marked, and weight cannot be placed on the limb during the 
first few days, the prognosis, especially in the horse, is unfavourable. 
The treatment of rupture consists in absolute rest, the provision of plentiful 
bedding, and in turning the animal with sufficient frequency to prevent bed-sores. 
Course. The number of recorded cases is at present too small to guide 
us in laying down the general course of crural lameness, in addition to 
which each case varies according to its cause. Whilst the paralysis 
accompanying haemoglobinuria is generally obstinate, indeed often in¬ 
curable, that produced by severe mechanical strain frequently disappears 
in 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. Early recovery may be expected 
in recent and incomplete paralysis. Dollar has seen complete recovery 
from the paralysis following haemoglobinuria, though the cases have 
lasted as long as six and eight months respectively. The horses were 
turned out to grass. Needless to say, some cases of haemoglobinuria 
recover completely in a few weeks. 
Treatment of crural paralysis must follow general principles. The 
use of the electric current, and especially of the Earadic 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 
degenerative changes, 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 performed daily. In obstinate cases 
Dollar has several times had excellent results from deep point firing over 
the affected region. Eepeated blistering is useful. Exercise, in addition 
to favouring regenerative changes in the affected nerve, assists circulation 
arid nutrition in the muscles. In dogs the induced electric current may 
be employed. Iodide of potassium and strychnine internally have also 
been recommended. 
D. Paralysis of the obturator nerve. 
Paralysis of this nerve has been seen, but must always be somewhat 
difficult to diagnose, because it presents none of the marked symptoms 
