PATHOLOGY. — GENERAL CHARACTERS. 383 



within themselves but from without, and in them appearing as 

 a secondary or propagated affection. 



Besides this condition now under consideration there are at 

 least four distinct diseases which have been, and are still, 

 recognised by the indefinite term ' staggers.' 1. Mad Stag- 

 gers, probably encephalitis ; 2. Einlepsy, a disease probably of 

 varying cerebral origin ; 3. Megrims or Vertigo, usually arising 

 from an irregularity or disturbance of the cranial circulation, 

 which again may originate from many causes ; 4. Sleepy or 

 Stor)iach Staggers, otherwise known as gorged stomach. The 

 last of these is the one with which the affection now spoken 

 of is most frequently confounded, and like it is a disease of the 

 nervous system, only in a secondary or propagated manner, 

 having its origin in some other organ than the brain or spinal 

 cord, and in connection with other structures than the tissue of 

 nerve-centres. 



This stomach or sleepy staggers, otherwise named ' coma,' 

 or 'immobility,' the characteristic symptoms of which are 

 apparently connected with involvement of the cerebral nerve- 

 centres, as distinct from the nerve-centre of the spinal cord, is, 

 I believe, to be regarded as a somewhat different disease from 

 enzootic paraplegia, the one now engaging our attention. In 

 taking this view of these conditions I am aware that I am 

 diverging from the opinions entertained by several who may 

 be considered authorities. These abnormal states seem to 

 differ from each other in several particulars, such as — 1. In 

 their origin ; 2. In their symptoms, development, and termina- 

 tion ; 3. In their anatomical appearances ; 4. In the means by 

 which they are successfull}^ combated. 



In the condition differentiated by the term ' stomach or 

 sleepy staggers,' the character of the food Avhich seems to operate 

 in its production is of less consequence than the amount of it, 

 particularly if it is of a pultaceous and rather indigestible 

 nature. Enzootic paraplegia rarely or never occurs on any 

 food save rye-grass, and that only under certain conditions of 

 its growth. 



In sleepy staggers cerebral sjTiiptoms are the diagnostic 

 feature of the disease, coma and loss of consciousness in pro- 

 portion to the cerebral involvement. With enzootic paraplegia 

 spinal, not cerebral, symptoms are the diagnostic feature ; coma 



