770 Epilepsy. 



After collapsing" certain parts of the body, especially the 

 neck and the extremities, appear stiff in consequence of tonic 

 contractions of the muscles ; the face, especially in horses and 

 dogs, has a peculiar lixed expression, while the eyes show a 

 marked rotation inwards and outwards. Either now^ or at the 

 beginning of the attack the characteristic clonic spasms occur 

 which mostly commence at the head or neck and quickly pass 

 to the remaining parts of the body. The pupils are dilated to 

 the maximum and fixed, the eyes roll restlessly to and fro, the 

 membrana nictitans covers a considerable portion of the globe 

 of the eye, and the lids perform blinking movements. The mus- 

 cles of the face, especially those of the ate nasi and the lips 

 twitch unceasingly so that the facies is distorted,^ and at^ the 

 same time the ears move actively to and fro. Sometimes twitch- 

 ing in the muscles of mastication causes the mouth to be alter- 

 nately opened and closed, or the lower jaw to be pressed strong- 

 ly against the upper jaw and moved laterally, the teeth grind- 

 ing together. Foaming saliva is thrown out which may be 

 tinged with blood from injury to the tongue by the teeth. The 

 neck is bent strongly backw^ards or to one side, or even turned 

 slightly on its long axis. 



The first muscular contractions occur sometimes when the animal is still stand- 

 ing; after the spasms invade the neck and trunk the equilibrium is lost on account 

 of bending of the spine and collapse necessarily follows. 



After the spread of the spasms to the muscles of the trunk 

 and extremities, the whole body is shaken without intermission 

 so violently that small animals jerk up from the ground, and 

 larger ones are thrown to and fro, and now and then rotate 

 round their long axis, wdiilst the extremities exhibit spasmodic 

 flexions and extensions in rapid succession. Sometimes invol- 

 untary voidance of dung and urine occurs at the same time, and 

 now and again in male animals ejaculation. The breathing is 

 intermittent for a few seconds in the commencing stages of the 

 attack, but later on it becomes quickened, deep and labored, and 

 sometimes groaning or rattling. The action of the heart is 

 moderately quickened, the pulse hard and small. The mucous 

 membranes of the head often exhibit marked cyanosis, in con- 

 sequence of compression of the neck veins through muscle con- 

 tractions. 



The attack lasts sometimes for a few up to fifteen seconds, 

 at other times much longer, from one-fourth to one-half an 

 hour, but mostly only one to five minutes. Finally the intensity 

 of the muscle contractions gradually declines, the breathing be- 

 comes more superficial and easy, the cyanosis disappears and 

 gradually consciousness returns. After the disappearance of 

 an attack many patients recover very quickly, stand up after a 

 few seconds, and partake of the proffered food or walk away 

 quietly. In other animals there persists for a long time, and 

 now and then for several hours, more or less pronounced ex- 



