HYSTERICS. 131 



around him, and staggers and falls, or falls suddenly. The 

 convulsions which follow are sometimes slight, but at other 

 times they are terrible. The head and forward part of the 

 horse are very strangely turned and twisted in the attack. The 

 convulsions pass off in a few minutes, and the horse gets up, 

 looks foolishly around, passes water, and eats and drinks as if 

 nothing out of the way had happened. 



It is very difficult, if not impossible, to discover the cause of 

 epilepsy, and, without this knowledge, no attempt need be made 

 to cure the patient. There is but little if any hope of effect- 

 ing a cure. A horse subject to fits is almost entirely useless, 

 as he is unfit to ride or drive, from the danger to which one 

 w^ould be exposed in using him. 



HYSTERICS. 



This is a nervous affection of mares, and occurs most fre- 

 quently in those that have not been with foal, and such as have 

 had colts and been denied the services of a stallion. It occurs 

 at about the time the mare is in season. It very closely re- 

 sembles the same disease in women. 



Sf/m2)toms.—J)imng the period of heat, or shortly after, the 

 mare is seized with a paroxysm or fit ; she falls to the ground 

 in the greatest excitement; her limbs are stretched out stiff and 

 rigid; the muscles of the entire body tremble rapidly; the 

 flanks sweat; the breathing is rapid, but not snoring, as in 

 apoplexy; the hind limbs are paralyzed, and the pulse is rapid. 

 After lying in this condition for a few minutes, the symptoms 

 abate, and the mare becomes more quiet. After awhile the 

 muscles regain their power, and she gets up, but not with- 

 out some trouble. After rising, she seems much better, but 

 very excitable, and seems to want to get out of the lot she is 

 m. The least noise sets her in the wildest excitement. She 

 may contin;ie up for some time, and then take another fit; or 

 the paroxysms may come on very rapidl}^, soon causing disease 

 of the brain and death. 



