502 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



Tlie post mortem appearances are very indefinite. If succeed- 

 ing a recent attack of " distemper," redness and softening of the 

 spinal cord, meningeal dropsy, and in some cases spots of con- 

 gestion on the medulla, optic thalami, and corpora striata, are 

 discoverable ; whilst in cases which have become chronic no 

 lesions have been discoverable after death. Most probably, 

 however, some change has taken place in the composition of the 

 nervous system, which has not been detected ; and this supposi- 

 tion is supported by the evidence that in acute or recent cases 

 morbid changes are usually detectable. In some cases the 

 disease disappears spontaneously, more especially if mild, and 

 the patient be moderately strong. 



In the horse chorea may usually be regarded as a concomitant 

 of other diseases, and will be mentioned in its proper place. 



Treatment in the Dog. — Attention to the condition of the 

 bowels, removal of all sources of irritation by mild purgatives, 

 generous diet, and tonics. 



In human medicine. Dr. Walshe recommends the extract 

 of cannabis indica as the most efficacious remedy, in doses of 

 one-fourth of a grain thrice daily. In other cases much benefit 

 has accrued from the cold bath. In my own practice I have 

 found that camphor and spirits of nitrous ether are sometimes 

 very useful, allaying the restlessness and diminishing the con- 

 vulsions. At the same time the animal strength has been 

 improved l^y good food and sulphate of iron. I find that the 

 best diet for dogs is milk and oatmeal porridge in the morning, 

 and ail allowance of fiesh, according to size, in the evening. 

 Bromide of potassium or chloral hydrate, oxide of zinc, or 

 arsenious acid^ have been recommended. 



The foregoing diseases not being essentially due to inflamma- 

 tion, congestion, or organic alteration of any particular part of 

 the cerebro-spinal system, I have placed them under the general 

 head of " Diseases of the Nervous System." Having done this, 

 I now purpose giving a detailed description of those nervous 

 diseases to which a locality can, with some certainty, be ascribed. 



