KPILEPSY.] 



MODERN VETERINAKY PRACTICE. 



[palsy. 



are so closely set, that lii.s mouth cannot bo 

 loiwd open. At other timea ho labours 

 uniK-r convulsive motions, and his limbs 

 ehako so violently, that ho even breaks the 

 pavement with his feet, if he fall in such a 



P.\LSY. 



I'ulsi/ is wlicn a part of tho body Iosch its 

 power of moving;, or feeling, or both. Tliia 

 disease, amonyst tho old farriers, wua called 



situation. Sometimes, wldle the legs are still', plant-struck, or shrew-run. 



the head and body are violently agitated. 

 These varieties of symptoms frequently at- 

 tacking him alternately, it is not to be 

 wondered at that the allection should remain 

 on him, in some instances, two or three hours, 

 more or less, and then that he should recover, 

 sometimes without any return of it ; at others, 

 the fits are more or less troublesome, according 

 to the success of the means applied for relief. 

 As the fit goes off, there is generally a foam- 

 ing at the mouth ; the foam being white, and 

 resembling that of a healthy animal. 



The causes of epilepsy are several. It 

 appears to be dependent on a kind of spas- 

 modic affection of the brain, either from too 

 tight reining up, or the colhir pressing too 

 hard. It may also arise from blood being 

 forced to the head by constitutional disorders. 

 AYorms is a cause of it. Horses of very full 

 habit, plethoric, or over-fed, are liable to 

 it, particularly when not having constant 

 exercise. 



For the curative means for epilepsy, nothing 

 can be done while the horse is enduring the 

 fit but the following, which will be found 

 excellent : — • 



Strong Liquor of Ammonia . . 1 oz. 

 AVhile the convulsion, or fit, is on, hold the 

 bottle of ammonia frequently to his nose ; and 

 in all probability he will immediately j'lmp 

 up, or, at least, in a very short time, with the 

 fit driven from him. Should he be a large 

 cart-horse, in high condition, take four or six 

 quarts of blood from him ; feed him on cold 

 bran mashes, and give a dose of physic or two, 

 according to his strength or size. The mer- 

 curial ball, composed of blue pill and aloes, 

 is also very good in this case. If it can be 

 procured, occasionally feed with grass ; but 

 hard food must be lessened. "We have seen 

 some poor farmers' horses attacked violently 

 with this disease, and have attributed it to the 

 excessively hard and bad arrangement of the 

 harness with which they were furnished. There- 

 fore too much care cannot be bestowed on the 

 gearing with which a horse is caparisoned. 

 2o 



If there is only a trembling, or shaking in 

 the part, or if only one limb is attacked, it Ih 

 seldom dangerous. Jiut when it seizes both 

 limbs behind, the case is very troublesome and 

 difficult to cure. Tlie horse going at the slowest 

 pace, reels about, and, with difficulty, is able to 

 stand at all. On turning round, he is obliged 

 to form an immense circle, to accomplish the 

 act, which frequently ends in a fall. 



This, of course, would lead our attention to 

 examine the horse's loins, which always occa- 

 sion him to exhibit pain on pressure; showing 

 that there must be some morbid action going on 

 in the spinal marrow ; either in the substance 

 itself, or the parts that cover it. Or, perhaps 

 from some accident, a small portion of bone is 

 pressing upon it there ; and consequently de- 

 prives the posterior nerves of their action. 

 We have no doubt that it may occur from 

 turning in a narrow stall ; for it is truly dis- 

 tressing to see some horses placed in such hen- 

 coop stalls as they are, when, in endeavouring to 

 come out, they twist themselves almost double. 

 As this affection is not of unfrequent occur- 

 rence, every person who knows the value of a 

 good hackney, will be glad to see it removed. 

 The stimulating applications are the best, such 

 as the following : — 



Cantharides, powdered . . . 1 oz. 



Oil of Turpentine .... 2 do. 



Olive Oil 3 do. 



Mix, and shake well together in a bottle, 

 and apply a portion of it over the loins, night 

 and morning. 



Or, 



Tartar Emetic .... 2 drachms. 

 Hog's Lard . . . . 2 oz. 



Form this into an ointment, and apply, until 

 small pimples arise. Give the mild mercurial 

 alterative ball — (Sicq List of Medicines') — every 

 second or third day. Some people are ex- 

 ceedingly fond of applying what are called 

 changes, and ordering a run at grass for a iev 

 months. A cure by such means is sometimes 

 effected ; but in this case, as in many others 

 among tho old farriers, the praise is agcribed 



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