296 The Care of Animals 



teaspoonful doses three tunes daily with the arseuic. 

 This treatment may be continued for two or three weeks, 

 then stopped for two or three weeks, and then repeated. 

 In some cases, cutting the lateral extensor tendon just 

 below the hock joint gives permanent relief to horses 

 having stringhalt, and this is not a dangerous 

 operation. 



FITS, EPILEPSY 



Horses are sometimes subject to fits, which render 

 them wholly or partly unconscious. In some cases 

 they appear to be in a frenzy of excitement; they stag- 

 ger about and often fall. Animals subject to fits are 

 dangerous for driving, because they are wholly irre- 

 sponsible during an attack; and they frequently cause 

 serious injuries to themselves and to those depend- 

 ent on them. A horse is usually attacked by a fit 

 while being driven, and without any premonitory 

 symptoms, often floundering, rearing or plunging, 

 and sometimes running away or dashing into dan- 

 gerous places. 



During the attack, the horse should be freed from 

 the vehicle, and the harness loosened or removed. 

 Cold water dashed over the head generally gives relief. 

 The cause of the difficulty should be looked for and 

 removed, if possible. It may be over-feeding, or a 

 tight-fitting collar or throat-latch, or any other con- 

 dition that interferes with the circulation. Real epi- 

 lepsy is incurable, and a horse suffering from such 

 fits should not be placed in any position involving 

 responsibility. Many causes are responsible for fits. 



