414 CHOREA. 



animal loosely in slings. By this means Ave secure its support 

 during the severity of the seizure, while at the same time we 

 do not irritate or annoy it by adjusting these appliances when 

 the susceptibility to be excited is greatest ; we also, by this, 

 avoid the nearly invariably serious consequences which result 

 from the patient falling to the gi'ound during a paroxysm of 

 spasm. In a great number of instances the animal is disposed 

 to partake of food, which may be allowed him in moderate 

 quantity, and of such a nature as will tend to obviate the ten- 

 dency to constipation. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Definition. — This term has been applied to an irregular con- 

 vulsive action of cliferent voluntary muscles of a clonic 

 character, particularly affecting those of the extremities, and 

 also in rarer cases of the neck and anterior regions; these 

 movements are either altogether or to a great extent beyond 

 the control of the luill. 



Nature and Causation. — The history of this disease in man is 

 a curious record of superstition, and of the influence of the 

 religious or spiritual element when brought to deal with the 

 wondrous phenomena of bodily disease. In our profession, 

 from its age and the comparatively recent date at which correct 

 scientific pathological inquiry has been brought to bear on 

 animal diseases, we have been spared much of this. Still, we 

 are probably not more settled in our opinions regarding the 

 true nature of this and many other diseased conditions of the 

 same system, than when priestly exorcism, frantic dances, and 

 authorized processions to some saintly shrine were the ortho- 

 dox methods of relief prescribed for sufferers from chorea. 



Probably, when our instruments and means of investigation 

 are more refined, we may be better able to deal with such a 

 subtle and strangely adaptive structure as nerve-tissue. At 

 the present time, even amongst those who are most entitled to 

 be heard on the subject, there is far from being unanimity of 



