Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
Paraplegia is not difficult to recognize, for it is characterized by a
weakness and imperfect control of the hind legs and powerless tail. The
urine usually dribbles away as it is formed and the manure is pushed
out, ball by ball, without any voluntary effort, or the passages may
cease entirety. When paraplegia is complete, large and ill-conditioned
sores soon form on the hips and thighs from chafing and bruising, which
have a tendency quickly to weaken the animal and necessitate his
destruction.
LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA, OR INCOORDINATION OF MOVEMENT.--This is characterized
by an inability to control properly the movement of the limbs. The
animal appears usually perfectly healthy, but when he is led out of his
stall his legs have a wobbly movement and he will stumble or stagger,
especially in turning. When this is confined to the hind parts it may be
termed a modified form of paraplegia, but often it may be seen to affect
nearly all the voluntary muscles when they are called into play, and
must be attributed to some pressure exerted on the base of the brain.
LOCAL PARALYSIS.--This is frequently met with in horses. It may affect
many parts of the body, even vital organs, and it is very frequently
overlooked in diagnosis.
FACIAL PARALYSIS.--This is a frequent type of local paralysis, and is
due to impairment of function of the motor nerve of the facial muscles,
the portio dura. The cause may exist at the base of the brain,
compression along its course after it leaves the medulla oblongata, or
to a bruise after it spreads out on the great masseter muscle.
_Symptoms._--A flaccid condition of the cheek muscles, pendulous lips,
inability to grasp the feed, often a slow and weak movement in chewing,
and difficulty and slowness in drinking.
LARYNGISMUS PARALYTICUS, OR ROARING.--This condition is characterized by
roaring, and is usually caused by an inflamed or hypertrophied bronchial
gland pressing against the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, which
interferes with its conducting power. A similar condition is
occasionally induced in acute pleurisy, when the recurrent nerve becomes
involved in the diseased process or compressed by plastic exudation.
PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM AND TAIL.--This is generally the result of a
blow or fall on the rump, which causes a fracture of the sacrum bone and
injury to the nerves supplying the tail and part of the rectum and
muscles belonging thereto. This fracture would not be suspected were it
not for the loss of motion of the tail.
INTESTINAL PARALYSIS.--Characterized by persistent constipation;
frequently the strongest purgatives have no effect whatever on the
movement of the bowels. In the absence of symptoms of indigestion, or
special diseases implicating the intestinal canal, torpor of the bowels
must be attributed to deficient innervation. This condition may depend
upon brain affections or be due to reflex paralysis. Sudden checks of
perspiration may induce excessive action of the bowels or paralysis.
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