DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 51 



the body emaciated to a considerable extent. We are seldom called to 

 treat such cases, but in parturition you may be troubled with this, 

 and you will just puncture and let the water out. It is possible for 

 an animal to have it and live for some time, but if in a puny, sickly 

 animal, it would be best to recommend its destruction. There may 

 be effusion into the frontal sinuses, which you can also puncture. 



StiiV4ly or WiiJ. — It is caused by the hydatid coenurus cerebralis. 

 It is developed from the tape-worm of the dog. The eggs of the tape- 

 worm are taken into the system of the sheep and developed, causing 

 what is called sturdy, or gid. Experiments that have been made of 

 those sheep that received the ovum of the taenia coenurus, showed 

 that one-half became affected in from ten to sixty days. It consists 

 of a body with many heads, which irritate the substance involved. 

 It may not set up much irritation for some time. 



Symptoms. — If it is but one hemisphere, the animal will go round 

 and round, either to the right or left, depending upon the position of 

 the disease. If it is between the lobes of the brain, the head will be 

 carried high, perhaps ; but if in the medulla oblongata, the animal 

 cannot walk very well, if at all. These pin-like heads inay find the 

 cranial bone, and cause absorption of it, and they may even come out 

 through the skin of the parts. In such cases you can detect them 

 through the softened condition of the bone ; sometimes, but not 

 always. We are not often called to treat such cases. They can be 

 removed by trephining the bone, and sucking out the parasites through 

 a camula, by means of a syringe. It may prove successful. 



Stridg'-Halt. — The opposite to paralysis. So named from the action 

 of the animal. It is entirely due to some lesion or lesions of the nervous 

 system, but just what part of the nervous system it is difficult to tell. 

 Some say a part of the spinal cord ; others say a part of the brain, and 

 others of the nerves supplying the hind extremeties. We see animals 

 affected with this for years, but this could not be if the brain was much 

 affected It is produced by some lesions or abnormal condition of the 

 nerve going to the parts, as a general thing, but may be due to some 

 lesion of the spinal cord. It is easily detected, as a general thing. 



Symptoms. — Violent spasmodic contraction of the muscles of the 

 limb. And of the muscles, the extensors are oftener affected than any 

 others. The symptoms vary much. It may be so slight that you cannot 

 notice it by moving the horse forward. The leg may be brought entirely 

 up to the abdomen. The horse does not show it at all times ; but may 

 show it, and then go for some time, and again show it, etc. It is best 

 seen in turning the horse around, and you may have difficulty in making 

 up your mind whether it is a natural or unnatural condition. Push the 

 animal back, and from fide to side. There is one form that shows itself 

 in the stable, which does not show it outside, but after standing in the 

 stable for some time and then taken out, shows it. 



Causes. — The exciting cause is hard to give, but is most likely to occur 

 in highly nervous horses. It sometimes results from blistering for ring- 

 bone, which may have irritated the nerves in some way. I think another 

 cause is clipping, and exposing to the cold afterwards. The symptoms 

 are better marked in winter than in summer. Some show it in winter 

 that do not show it in summer at all It is an unsoundness, and a dis- 

 ease. You must look out for this in your examinations for soundness. 

 But it does not interfere with the animal for work to any great extent. 

 It is likely to be progressive. 



Treatment.— It is an incurable disease, but may be palliated by attend- 

 ing to the feed. Give a purgative, and you might use bromide of potas- 



