DISEASES OP THE HORSE. 207 



hip or thigh is seen occasioually, and is termed "shivering'"' by- 

 horsemen. 



Chorea is often associated with a nervous disposition, and is not so 

 frequent in animals with a sluggish temperament. The involuutarj^ 

 muscular contractions cause no pain, and do not appear to produce 

 much exhaustion of the affected muscles, although the jerking may be 

 regular and persistent whenever the animal is in motion. 



Treatment. — In a few cases, earlj^ in the appearance of this affection, 

 general nerve tonics may be of benefit, viz, iodide of iron, 1 dram; 

 pulverized nux vomica, 1 dram; pulverized Scutellaria, 1 ounce. Mix 

 and give in the feed once a day for two weeks. Arsenic in the form 

 of Fowler's solution is often beneficial. If the cause is connected 

 with organic brain lesions, treatment is usually unsuccessful. 



EPILEPSY, OR FALLING FITS. 



The cause of epilepsy is seldom traceable to any special brain lesions. 

 In a few cases it accompanies disease of the pituitary bod}^, which is 

 located in the under surface of the brain. Softening of the brain may 

 give rise to this affection. Attacks may occur onh' once or twice a 

 year or they may be of frequent recurrence. 



Synijytoms. — No premonitory symptoms precede an epileptic fit. 

 The animal suddenly staggers; the muscles become cramped; the jaws 

 ma}'- be spasmodically opened and closed, and the tongue become lacer- 

 ated between the teeth; he foams at the mouth and falls down in a 

 spasm. The urine flows away involuntarily, and the breathing may 

 be temporarily arrested. The paroxysm soon passes off, and the animal 

 gets on his feet in a few minutes after the return of consciousness. 



Treatment. — Dashing cold water on the head during the paroxj'sm. 

 After the recovery, 1 dram of oxide of zinc may be given in his feed 

 twice a day for several weeks, or benefit may be derived from the tonic 

 prescribed for chorea. 



PARALYSIS, OR PALSY. 



Paralysis is a weakness or cessation of the muscular contraction, by 

 diminution of loss of the conducting power or stimulation of the motor 

 nerves. Paralytic affections are of two kinds, the comjjlete and the 

 incomplete. The former includes those in which both motion and sen- 

 sibility are affected; the latter those in which onl}^ one or the other is 

 lost or diminished. Paral3'sis may be general or partial. The latter 

 is divided into hemiplegia and paraplegia. When oiiXj a small portion 

 of the body is affected, as the face, a limb, the tail, it is designated 

 b}^ the term local paralysis. When the irritation extends from the 

 periphery to the center it is termed reflex paralysis. 



Causes. — They are very A'aried. Most of the acute affections of the 

 brain and spinal cord ma}^ lead to paralysis. Injuries, tumors, disease 



