26 
CASE OF PAKAPLEGIA. 
another month his action appeared as bad as ever, and although he 
seemed very lively on being first led out, he could not fairly bring 
his hind legs under him. It was evident also, that, although he 
preserved his general flesh, his glutei muscles wasted perceptibly, 
and particularly on the near side, the quarter that had been all along 
the worst. His hind legs too, particularly the near one, were some¬ 
what swollen, the enlargement being oedematous. 
I began to form a very unfavourable opinion of my patient. 
Either the spinal cord or its nerves must be affected, for the symp¬ 
toms were those of paraplegia. However, I continued the stimu¬ 
lating application to the loins, and in addition to the tonics gave 
mild diuretics to relieve the oedema of the legs: also not knowing 
exactly how far the urinary passages were involved, I administered, 
for the space of a week, moderate but daily doses of balsam of capivi. 
Another month elapsed, and Muscat was no better; and in addi¬ 
tion to his former symptoms he was now unable to retain his urine; 
it dropped continually from him as fast as it was secreted. It now 
appeared to me that the nerves supplying the bladder were in¬ 
volved, and the case seemed altogether hopeless. About this 
time, with a view of ascertaining a little more information respect¬ 
ing this singular case, I passed my hand up the rectum, and, about 
twelve inches from the anus, I could distinctly feel a hard tumour 
of considerable 'size adhering closely to the spine, and situated 
mostly towards its left side. 
The mystery w'as now, in a great measure, unravelled. This tu¬ 
mour, in all probability, must have pressed on the lumbar and 
sacral nerves, and, as it increased, the symptoms became more com¬ 
plicated and more aggravated. I now recommended the horse to 
be destroyed, which, after some weeks’ delay, during which the 
symptoms became still worse, was accordingly done, his lordship’s 
sanction having been obtained. 
I should have said, that, at the earlier part of the illness, there 
was no pain evinced on pressing the loins; towards a later period 
of its history, however, considerable tenderness was evinced, and, 
after lying down, he experienced much difficulty in rising. 
I have given a general description of the symptoms, as well as 
the treatment employed; there were more minute variations of the 
former, and also various particulars of the latter, which it is un¬ 
necessary to detail. 
A note was sent to me, requesting my attendance on the follow¬ 
ing day, when the horse was to be killed; but, unfortunately, I was 
at a considerable distance, and did not receive the communication 
until several days afterwards. A friend of mine, Mr. Yarnold, a 
surgeon residing at Romsey, and devoted to the pursuit of medical 
science, superintended the dissection, and favoured me with the 
