DISEASES OF HORSES 395 



Treatment of Spasms. An anodyne liniment, composed of 

 chloroform 1 part and soap liniment 4 parts, applied to cramped 

 muscles will usually cause relaxation. This may be used where sin- 

 gle external muscles are affected. In spasms of the glottis, inhala- 

 tion of sulphuric ether will give quick relief. In spasm of the 

 diaphragm, rest and the administration of half an ounce of chloro- 

 form in 3 ounces of whisky, with a pint of water added, will gener- 

 ally suffice to bring relief, or if this fails give 5 grains of sulphate of 

 morphia by hypodermic injection. If spasms result from organic 

 disease of the nervous system, the latter should receive such treat- 

 ment as its character demands. In cramp of the leg compulsory 

 movement usually causes relaxation very quickly ; therefore the ani- 

 mal should be led out of the stable and be forced to run or trot. 

 Sudden nervous excitement caused by a crack of the whip or smart 

 blow, will often bring about immediate relief. Should this fail, 

 the anodyne liniment may be used along the inside of the thigh, and 

 chloroform, ether, or laudanum given internally. An ounce of the 

 chloral hydrate will certainly relieve the spasm when given inter- 

 nally, but the cramp may return soon after the effect has passed off, 

 which in many cases it does very quickly. 



Convulsions. Although there is no disease of the nervous sys- 

 tem which can be properly termed convulsive, or justify the use of 

 the word convulsion to indicate any particular disease, yet it is often 

 such a prominent symptom that a few words may not be out of place. 

 General, irregular muscular contractions of various parts of the body, 

 with unconsciousness, characterize what we regard as convulsions, 

 and like ordinary spasms are dependent upon some disease or irrita* 

 tion of the nervous structures', chiefly of the brain. No treatment is 

 required; in fact, a general convulsion must necessarily be self- 

 limited in its duration. Suspending, as it does, respiratory move- 

 ments, checking the oxygenation and decarbonization of the blood, 

 the rapid accumulation of carbonic-acid gas in the blood and the 

 exclusion of oxygen quickly puts the blood in a condition to pro- 

 duce the most reliable and speedy sedative effect upon the nerve 

 excitability that could be found, and consequently furnishes its own 

 remedy so far as the continuance of the convulsive paroxysm is con- 

 cerned. Whatever treatment is instituted must be directed toward 

 a removal of the cause of the convulsive paroxysm. 



CHOREA, OR ST. VITUS' DANCE. 



Chorea is characterized by involuntary contractions of volun- 

 tary muscles. This disease is an obscure disorder, which may be 

 due to pressure upon a nerve, cerebral, or spinal sclerosis, small 

 aneurisms in the brain, etc. Choreic symptoms have been produced 

 by injecting granules of starch into the arteries entering trie brain. 

 Epilepsy and other forms of convulsions simulate chorea in ap- 

 pearance. 



Strirtghalt is by some termed chorea. This is manifested by a 

 sudden jerking up of one or both hind legs when the animal is walk- 

 ing. This symptom may be very slight in some horses, but has a 

 tendency to increase with the age of the animal. In some the catch- 



