{j52 Chronic Dropsy of the Ventricles. 



per minute, and the rhythm and type of respiration vary. 

 Movements of the intestines are sluggish; there is some consti- 

 pation and what feces are passed are dry and in the form of 

 small balls. 



The above-described sj^nptoms are, of course, present only 

 when the disease has reached an advanced stage, and even then 

 one or other may be absent. In the early stages the abnormali- 

 ties are very slight and it requires very careful examination of 

 the animal to discover them. Regiilar work which has been 

 learned through its having been done for a long time is almost 

 as much an anatomical function as eating and drinking, and for 

 the most part it may be carried out without voluntary impulses 

 and consequently it may be done passably well in spite of the 

 withdrawal of the cerebral influence. Disturbances of the last- 

 named function are noticed much later, the better bred the ani- 

 mal, the more active its temperament and the more thoroughly 

 it is accustomed to its work. The person riding a horse gets 

 the earliest intimation of disturbance of the functions, in that 

 the horse does not carry out certain movements with its ac- 

 customed precision (jumping, etc.) ; difficulty is experienced in 

 making it change its pace and it makes unnecessary movements. 

 Draft horses are, as a rule, not observed to be ill until there are 

 pronounced symptoms. 



The symptoms presented by an animal are likely to vary 

 considerably. A sudden rise of the intracranial pressure or an 

 exacerbation of the inflammation, which often occurs in cases of 

 dropsy of the ventricles, may cause a transitory aggravation of 

 the animal's condition. In this connection work is of the ut- 

 most importance, for if the animal be worked until it breaks out 

 in a sweat the symptoms which up to this time may have been 

 very indefinite are aggravated to such an extent that the ani- 

 mal may now show the typical symptoms. A similar but less 

 important effect may be produced by very hot weather, warm 

 damp stable, oestrum, rich diet, etc. The opposite conditions 

 are conducive to an improvement in the animal and in the early 

 stages may cause a temporary disappearance of all symptoms. 



The effect of external influences upon the synii^toms explains the experience 

 conimonly met with in practice, namely, that when a horse that is affected with 

 sleepy staggers changes hands it may show symptoms under its new conditions 

 that had not been observed by the previous owner. 



There has been observed a suddenly occurring exacerbation 

 of the condition associated with fits, and in many cases the 

 latent disease is first made evident by such an attack (socalled 

 mad staggers), or it may be started in this way (Dexler). The 

 animal does not answer to the reins, cannot be moved, or it 

 takes fright Avithout any reason at well-known olijects or even 

 a light. It attempts to break through, or even does break 

 through by sheer force, objects standing in its path. If the 

 seizure occurs while the animal is in the stable it rears up, at- 



