TREATMENT. 423 



Bleeding-, which may be resorted to in such cases as are evi- 

 dently associated with plethora, and a congestive state of the 

 vessels of the head, is not to be rashly adopted in every instance. 



2. Prospective Treatment. — In every case where the con- 

 vulsive fits are separated by a considerable interval of time, 

 attention ought to be directed to the animal's general health, 

 so that the recurrence of these may be less frequent or ulti- 

 mately disappear. As irritation of the bowels is in some 

 animals intimately associated with the occurrence of these fits, 

 we ought to be certain that the canal is in as healthy a con- 

 dition as possible ; any irritant, whether proceeding from 

 improper food or the presence of parasites, ought to be 

 removed. While, should the use of anthelmintics and pur- 

 gatives not be absolutely needful for this immediate purpose, 

 their employment will nevertheless be perfectly safe and not 

 at all counter-indicated, seeing that by their derivative action 

 they will tend favourably to lessen cerebral pressure and con- 

 gestion. Of medicinal agents, those most likely to be beneficial 

 are the bromides of potassium and sodium, the preparations of 

 the Calabar bean, and, in rather chronic cases, the salts of 

 silver, zinc, iron, and arsenic. 



In those cases appearing as the sequel of certain febrile and 

 other diseases, and where the nervous system seems below par, 

 a decidedly tonic and invigorating system of treatment is most 

 likely to be attended with favourable results. The food ought 

 to be nutritious, but easy of digestion, and given with regularity, 

 so as to avoid repletion ; the animals ought to be well housed, 

 and allowed or compelled to take a reasonable amount of exer- 

 cise daily in the open air ; put cautiously to work, and undue 

 excitement avoided. 



CHAPTER XIY. 



diseases of the respiratory organs. 

 Physical Examination. 



The diseases of the great organs of respiration and circulation, 

 the lungs, the air-tubes, the heart and great bloodvessels, and of 

 the thorax generally, are recognised by certain symptoms. 



