316 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



ventricles. Melanotic disease was the cause of chorea in a 

 case recorded by Professor Williams. In one instance before 

 our notice, hypersemia of the cord and of the basal ganglia 

 of the brain was observed. 



Effusion into the sub-arachnoid cavity of the brain and 

 cord, with thickening of the serous covering of the brain, 

 and various changes in the nerve texture, are also mentioned 

 as having been met with. 



Treatment. — In the first place it is necessary in all cases 

 of chorea to remove the cause when that is possible. 



The general hygienic conditions should be carefully 

 attended to ; the diet should be good and nutritious, and 

 the work proportionate to the strength of the animal. 



Internally, mineral tonics, such as salts of iron, zinc, or 

 Fowler's solution, with vegetable tonics^ are worthy of trial. 



EPILEPSY. 



Definition. — Epilepsy is a peculiar affection of the nervous 

 system, characterized by sudden temporary loss of conscious- 

 ness, and associated for the most part with a convulsive 

 attack which, in many instances, cannot be traced to any 

 organic disease. 



The fits are of variable severity and duration, and may 

 be succeeded by debility, and sometimes by a drowsy or 

 semi-comatose condition. 



Pathology and Morbid Anatomy. — There are not many 

 affections of the pathology of which we are so much in 

 doubt as we are about that of epilepsy. 



With regard to the causes of this affection we know but 

 little definitely, but hereditary predisposition is very pro- 

 bably, as in chorea, an important factor in its production. 



Epileptic attacks, being manifested under very different 



