494 
DISEASES OF THE TAIL. 
From the last lumbar vertebra onwards the epidural fat rapidly diminished in 
quantity and finally disappeared; from the first sacral vertebra to its termina¬ 
tion backwards the entire spinal canal was filled with a greyish-white, firm 
growth of such dimensions that it could scarcely be extracted, except in frag¬ 
ments. Microscopically, this growth consisted of firm connective tissue, 
partly interposed between the nerve bundles and partly surrounding the 
nerve stems. This connective tissue hypertrophy also affected the part of 
the efferent nerve trunks and their gan¬ 
glia. The calibre of the vessels was 
greatly diminished in consequence of 
thickening of the tunica intima. The 
nerve elements had undergone partial 
fatty degeneration. Secondary, ascend¬ 
ing degeneration of the tracts in the 
spinal cord could not be detected. The 
spinal ganglia in the lumbar and sacral 
regions displayed marked increase of the 
interstitial material and complete de¬ 
generation of the nerve elements. Of 
the peripheral nerves the pudic nerve, the 
coccygeal plexus, and the nerves supply¬ 
ing the tail showed degeneration. The 
condition, therefore, consisted in an in¬ 
flammation of the cauda equina. The 
process secondarily affected the nerve 
trunks and spinal ganglia, and led to 
degeneration of the muscular groups 
served by them. 
Fig. 183. 
Fig. 184. 
Prognosis is unfavourable, as treatment has hitherto proved power¬ 
less against this gradually progressive disease. In most cases neither 
stimulants nor the use of strychnine, nor of electricity, are of any use. 
Roder gave strychnine without success. The animal gradually becomes 
worse, finally unworkable, and has to be killed. A mare seen by 
Deigendesch died from rupture of the bladder. 
(3) Tumours on the tail occur in horses, oxen, and dogs. Carcinomata 
and sarcomata, and in grey, horses the so-called melanomata, are not 
