246 Journal of Agriculture. [8 April, 1907. 



be noticed. The legs and ears are alternately hot and cold, and perspira- 

 tion is profuse. Violent convulsions now come on, the muscles all over 

 become stiff and rigid, the eyes stand out fixedly, the limbs are stretched 

 stiff, and the tail cocked towards the back ; urine and excreta may be 

 forcibly ejected. During the attack, the pulse is frequent and hard, and 

 the breathing catchy and difficult. All this is succeeded bv muscular re- 

 laxation and placidity, and the animal may relapse intoi a state of uncon- 

 sciousness for a time. These alternations of frenzy and stupor may con- 

 tinue for ,a day or more, but, as the disease advances, the attacks are 

 shorter and sharper, leaving the animal in an increasinglv enfeebled con- 

 dition until it either succumbs during a violent convulsion or collapses 

 during unconsciousness. If the spinal cord is the seat of the affection, the 

 paralvsis of the limbs will be more pronounced, but. if the brain is in- 

 volved, there will be paralysis of the muscles supplied bv the cranial 

 nerves ; the lips and ears will hang pendulous, the tongue will be pro- 

 truded, there will be loss of the power of swallowing, and snoring will be 

 pronounced. 



"In some cases in' which the stupor is very great there may be no 

 delirium ; in others, the delirium is continuous, and the animal knocks 

 itself about in a fashion beyond all control, and thus mav sustain fatal 

 injuries ; in others, again, the convulsions or fits come on suddenly, with- 

 out anv warning and are often mistaken for symptoms of poisoning. In 

 the two latter cases, death may occur in a few hours from attack, but in 

 most cases it is two or three days before the symptoms which presage 

 death are developed, or before signs of recovery are shown. 



" Treatment. 



" This is one of the diseases in which the beneficial effects of bleeding 

 are often very marked. Bleeding from the jugular vein relieves the over- 

 charged blood vessels of the brain, and so lessens brain pressure. From 

 4 to 6 quarts of blood mav be abstracted with aavantage in the early 

 stages, but, later on, when actual inflammation has succeeded the con- 

 gestion, blood-letting is useless, and even harmful. For the constipation 

 which exists a purgative ball or drench may be gi\'en (for the horse — aloes, 

 6 drams ; calomel, i dram ; ginger, i dram. For cattle — Epsom salts, 

 1 lb.; powdered jalap, i oz. ; tartar emetic, | oz.). Enemas of warm 

 soapv water should also be given. For the delirium, extract of bella- 

 donna, in j-oz. doses, is the most suitable sedative, and it may be re- 

 ])eated every few hours. It wall be two or three days before there is any 

 marked response to the treatment, and during this time the patient should 

 be kept in a loose box, and disturbed as little as possible. Full recovery 

 of the locomotive powers often takes a long time, but it mav be hastened 

 bv the giving of \-oz. doses of iodide of potassium in the drinking-water ; 

 these assist in the absorption of any effusion at the base of the brain or 

 in the spinaf canal. A course of strvchnine is also sometimes advan- 

 tageous, but it should onlv be given under professional direction. 



" Prevention. 



'■ Having regard to the causes previously described, it will be obvious 

 that for the prevention of the disease or the suppression of an outbreak 

 change of food or pasture and of water supply is essential. Amongst 

 stabled animals, attention should be directed to the removal of any un- 

 \\holesome conditions of drainage, filth, mouldiness, or dampness." 



