PARALYSIS OF RADIAL NERVE. 
519 
Diagnosis and course. The twenty cases of radial paralysis seen 
by Moller all eventually recovered, though not with equal rapidity ; 
incomplete paralysis usually disappears in fourteen days, but the greater 
number of cases of complete paralysis last for five to six weeks. Certain 
severe cases, possibly due to fractured first rib, require six to nine months 
for complete recovery. Three cases relapsed after some weeks’ severe 
work, but finally did well. Prognosis is, therefore, generally favourable. 
Uncertainty of movement sometimes remains even after disappearance of 
lameness, but generally disappears in time. The longer lameness con¬ 
tinues, the less the chance of cure. Well-marked muscular atrophy is 
therefore unpropitious, but return of irritability to the Faradic current 
must be regarded as a favourable sign. 
Treatment. In the greater number of Holler’s cases no particular 
treatment was required. Electricity is only worth trying in valuable 
horses, but massage, especially in complete paralysis, is certainly of 
the greatest value in assisting nutrition of the muscles. When paralysis 
is incomplete, daily exercise on soft ground and at a slow pace is for the 
same reason advisable. If thought advisable, subcutaneous injections 
of veratrin and strychnine may be employed. The application of power¬ 
ful douches can only be regarded as a kind of massage. Bormann 
effected recovery in five to six weeks by giving strych. nitr. *8 to *6 grain 
subcutaneously; but in this time the disease would generally disappear 
without any treatment whatever. 
A less frequent variety of intemittent radial paralysis has been seen by 
Moller. A young carriage-horse, which showed nothing unusual in the 
stable, or when beginning work, displayed symptoms of radial paralysis 
in the right fore leg as soon as it had gone about two miles. The con¬ 
dition was first incomplete, as shown by stumbling, but gradually became 
complete, with the above-described characteristic symptoms. By resting 
the animal, the symptoms disappeared in about half an hour, to reappear, 
however, as soon as work was resumed. Moller suspected thrombosis, 
either in the arteries supplying the triceps muscle or in one of their 
nerve stems. Although the post-mortem was conducted with the greatest 
care, nothing could be detected, so the cause of this rare disturbance 
remained unexplained. There was no muscular atrophy. 
YIIL—PARALYSIS OF THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS. 
ITolmann saw paralysis of the entire muscles of the fore limb in a 
horse, following on a fall, and found on post-mortem severe bleeding 
around the brachial plexus. From his description it is, however, clear 
that simultaneous rupture of the serratus magnus existed, for the horse 
was not only unable to move the foot, but the body sank several inches 
