THE HOKSE, AXD 



EPILEPSY.] 



def^ree, it is not worth while to attempt the 

 cure. It should also be recollected, during the 

 treatment, that so long as there is any discharge 

 from the nostrils, there is danger of its com- 

 municating the disease to other animals. Calo- 

 mel has been tried, even to salivation, without 

 the desired effect; also, Ethiop's mineral, or 

 quicksilver rubbed down with chalk ; but these 

 are fallacious, and we may say, useless. Tonic 

 medicines, and those principally of the mineral 

 kind, have been resorted to ; and the present 

 practice of the Eoyal Veterinary College, for 

 this disease, is to administer certain quantities 

 of sulphate of copper. This was formerly done 

 in balls ; but it is now found much more con- 

 venient, and we believe is more beneficial to 

 the animal, to be exhibited as follows: — 

 Sulphate of Copper, from 2 to 5 drachms. 

 Linseed Meal . . . . 1 oz. 

 Warm Water . . . . 6 do. 

 Dissolve the sulphate in warm water ; then add 

 the meal, stirring them well together, until in- 

 corporated. Give this draught every morning. 

 We have seen some good effects arise from 

 this, when the horse has commenced with it in 

 the early stage of the disease ; but when the 

 disease has got a firm hold of the lungs, it is 

 of little or no avail. We have succeeded in 

 several cases, when advised of the state of the 

 animals in time, by giving the following, either 



[epilepsy. 



in form of a ball, or a solution, as in the 

 last : — • 



Sulphate of Iron ... 3 drachms. 



Gentian 3 do. 



Form into a ball with treacle. 

 It is better to give this in the form of a 

 ball ; whilst the horse should be turned out into 

 a pasture of grass by himself, to prevent all 

 possibility of his coming in contact with any 

 other horses. If possible, a warm shed should 

 be in the paddock or field. Give the ball 

 about the middle of the day, and, every night 

 and morning, a feed of good oats and beans. 

 By turning the animal out, he will breathe the 

 natural air, not respiring his own over and 

 over again, as if in the stable. Then, by the 

 tonic medicine and good feed, if he is of any 

 constitution at all worth the expense, it will 

 be found that this is the only practicable 

 means of removing glanders. Constitution 

 has so much to do with the disease, that if 

 well supported by art, these are the only 

 means to be adopted. We should say, never 

 treat a horse affected with glanders in a stable. 

 The horse, also, by hanging down his head to 

 gather his food, relieves himself, and the dis- 

 charge comes more freely from him. However, 

 practice and experience in the treatment of 

 this disease, must be the leading features for 

 obtaining a knowledge of it. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



EPILEPSY; PALSY; SPASM; COLIC, OR GRIPES; TETANUS, OR LOCK-JAW; STRING-HALT. 



EPILEPSY. 



The affection termed epilepsy, frequently 

 affects cart and waggon horses more than any 

 other kinds ; and in diflerent counties and 

 localities, it assumes a variety of names, such 

 as meagrims, sturdy, turnsick, the falling-sick- 

 ness, the falling -evil, &c. The aftection, in its 

 first attack, comes on suddenly, and without 

 any previous indications. The animal, if in 

 exercise, stops short, shakes his head, and 

 looks wandering ; ia which state he continues 

 2S0 



a short time, and then will go on as before. 

 If the case should be a violent one, he fre- 

 quently falls to the ground, or commences 

 turning round and round, until he drops ap- 

 parently senseless. 



The whole system appears agitated by 

 strong conviilsions ; he dungs and stales in- 

 sensibly, at times becoming exceedingly vio- 

 lent ; at others, appearing as if life were ex- 

 tinct, unconscious to everything around him ; 

 his eyea seeming fixed, and often his jaws 



