258 DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 



in acute affections of the car, or parasites of that organ, and also as a conse- 

 quence of great physical excitement. We often see spontaneous convul- 

 sions; these are very similar to epilepsy, and are probably of reflex origin. 

 In some of these cases we may have to deal with true epilepsy, but, as a 

 rule, they may be ascribed to an undeveloped form of distemper, or to 

 some poisons, or uraemia. In some cases it may be due to some brain 

 affection, such as congestion of the membranes. It cannot be denied, 

 however, that there are a great number of convulsive attacks for which 

 the cause remains obscure. 



We may therefore conclude that we can only obtain an approxima- 

 tive insight into these convulsions by the symptoms which are presented. 

 Frec^uent occurrence of eclamptic attacks with a short interval between 

 must be considered as a very serious symptom. 



Therapeutics. — No agent seems to have any decided effect upon 

 epilepsy. The writer has tried a number of remedies, one after another, 

 without result. Bromide of sodium seems to be the best (this is prefer- 

 able to bromide of potassium, as it has no detrimental effect upon the 

 appetite) , provided it is given in substantial doses and kept up for months. 

 With this drug it is always possible to prolong the interval between 

 attacks; they are also shortened and relatively less serious. Sometimes 

 bromide of potash, soda, and ammonia are administered together in the 

 proportion of 2-2-1 and seem to have a more desirable effect. Other 

 agents such as oxide of zinc, arsenic, nitrate of silver, belladonna, hyoscya- 

 mus, valerian, bromohydrate, cold water, and electricity are now rarely 

 used. 



The therapeutic treatment during the convulsions consists in the use 

 of applications of cold water to the head; prevent the animal from injuring 

 itself. If one attack follows closely after another, use inhalations of 

 chloroform, or clysters of chloral hydrate; and give internally large doses 

 of bromide of sodium, morphia, or similiar sedative agents, and endeavor 

 to keep the animal as quiet as possible after the attack. 



J\. Bromide of sodium, 15.0 



Afiua, 150.0 



S. — One tablespoouful three times daily. 



In epileptiform convulsions in young animals we endeavor to remove 

 the cause and administer the salts of bromine, chloral hydrate, sulphonal 

 (0.5 to 4.0), hedonal (1.0 to 4.0), hypnon (0.5 to 2.0), veronal (0.5 to 1.5). 



I^. Chloral hydrate, 5.0 



Mucilage acacia, 



Syr. aurcnti cort., aa, 20.0 



Aqua distillata, 100.0 



F. M. 

 Sig. — A tablcspoonful every two hours. 



