GID STURDY TURNSICK. 217 



to be pushed along. The approach of the dog is disregarded, 

 or but little noticed, and such an animal is often said by shep- 

 herds to be " stunned i' th' head." In other instances there 

 is added to these symptoms various forms of disturbance of 

 locomotion. Some, while being driven along, turn more or 

 less towards the right or the left. Many describe a circle in 

 the one direction or the other. Others roll about from side 

 to side, and are, as the name of the disease suggests, giddy. 



In some instances the animal moves forward in leaps and 

 bounds not unlike the skipping action of a deer. Others, 

 again, obstinately back, and are altogether incapable of 

 moving in any other direction. Besides disturbances of loco- 

 motion, the muscles of different parts of the body are some- 

 times seen to twitch, or the entire body may become con- 

 vulsed. 



If the head of an animal so affected be carefully manipulated, 

 a slight bulging of the bones of the skull may sometimes be 

 recognised over the place where the parasite is lodged, and 

 by a little pressure with the finger the bones at this part will 

 be found to yield, owing to their having become thinned 

 by the outward pressure of the parasite within. The hyda- 

 tid, and consequently any bulging which may exist, will 

 invariably be found on that side of the skull towards which 

 the animal moves, whether to the right or to the left. When 

 the movements are such as we have described as taking 

 place in a forward direction, the hydatid must be sought for 

 somewhere in the middle of the head. 



The treatment of gid is rarely attended with complete suc- 

 cess. It necessitates, of course, the removal of the parasite 

 from the brain, which can only be effected by laying open 

 the cavity of the cranium. The practice of puncturing the 

 bladder with a pointed instrument and drawing out the fluid 

 with a syringe is relied on by some, but it is seldom that more 

 than temporary relief is afforded by the operation. The mis- 

 chief done to the brain before the presence and the seat of 

 the parasite can be made out, and the frequent necessity for 



