206 THE MODERN nORSE DOCTOR. 



may be of some use in correcting any existing morbid habit of 

 body. When the disease occurs in mares that have once foaled, 

 it may be confounded with hysteritis, (inflammation of the womb.) 

 In order, therefore, that the reader shall be able to draw a distinct 

 line between the two diseases, we inform him that hysteritis gen- 

 erally occurs a few days after delivery, or abortion ; and on 

 examining the vagina, it appears augmented in bulk; its lining 

 membrane redder than usual, and the anus free from those vio- 

 lent twitchings and loss of motor power which are present in 

 hysteria. 



Symptoms of Hysteria. — A mare during the menstrual period, 

 or perhaps a few days subsequent, will be seized with a paroxysm 

 resembling a fit; although there is no cerebral apoplexy nor 

 stertorous breathing, (symptoms of cerebral disease,) and lies or 

 falls down, and while the paroxysm lasts is unable to get up again : 

 during this brief period the pulse is accelerated; respirations 

 rapid ; the flanks are bedewed with moisture ; there is a peculiar 

 rigidity of the muscles of locomotion, attended with paralysis of 

 the hind limbs : as the paroxysm declines, the use of the limbs 

 is gradually restored ; the animal becomes more calm ; the pulse 

 lessens in volume and beats ; the respirations become more nat- 

 ural. At this stage, the owner of the mare may observe that she 

 is not herself, (as the saying is,) being excessively nervous and 

 irritable, and is excited by the least noise : the mare, however, 

 gradually becomes calm, and then is suddenly seized with another 

 paroxysm ; or they may follow each other in rapid succession, in 

 which case death often puts an end to the scene, or it results in 

 cerebral disease. Veterinary Surgeon Haycock remarks, that 

 out of three mares attacked with hysteria, two of them every now 

 and then strained violently, and ejected, per vaginam, excessive 

 quantities of coffee -colored urine, which consisted principally of 

 blood : this, as far as the author's observation goes, has not been 

 confirmed. Our observations, however, have only extended over 

 a few cases ; in which we noticed that the animals passed neither 

 dung nor urine until they arose, and then the urine was but 

 slightly colored. 



Treatment. — It is useless to give medicine while the patient is 

 in a paroxysm ; all that can be done is to give the animal, while 



