251 



spinal cord ; there are, however, various other theories. Although the 

 disease niay have a hereditary tendency, my opinion is that, in the 

 majority of cases, retarded dentition has a great deal to do with 

 inducing it (par. 348), as the complaint is seldom noticed before the 

 animal Is rising three years old. It is not so common in the mare ; 

 but big heavy cart horses are much affected, more particularly in their 

 hind extremities. When the fore limbs are attacked, the symptoms 

 are of a trembhng character, and are best observed while the animal 

 is eating a feed of oats, when the muscles of the shoulders and legs are 

 noticed to be all in a quiver. In other cases, on the horse being put 

 back, it drags its fore feet on the heels, after the manner of one 

 suffering from acute founder. The drinking of cold water, in suspected 

 cases, usuahy provokes the nervous twitchings and tremblings above 

 referred to. 



594. Chorea.— I have, on several occasions, seen a horse, rising 

 three years old, suddenly attacked with acute chorea, when at work in 

 the plough. It would stop, and fall on to its head or side, and 

 sometimes come over backwards ; on rising, it seemed to have little or 

 no control over the muscles of the limbs, having both fore and hind 

 legs spread wide apart, to keep it from faUing, while the head, 

 hanging in a listless manner was swung from side to side. In these 

 attacks, if made to stir, the animal staggers and falls ; or it may place 

 its side against a wall for support. As the case proceeds, should the 

 patient be turned out to grass, and be made to trot or canter, it pulls the 

 legs up very high, in a jerky fashion. When stopped suddenly, it may 

 perhaps fall on to its head or shoulder, and go tail over head ; or the fore 

 feet may be planted forward like posts, the body swinging from side 

 to side. These cases never sufficiently recover to be of much service 

 in saddle or harness, but may do ploughing and harrowing fairly well. 

 Two drachm doses of bromide of potassium, and two scruples of 

 exsiccated sulphate of iron, given daily, followed up with one drachm 

 doses of nux vomica, are very beneficial in such cases. 



595. Shivering is sometimes readily noticed when the animal is 

 standmo- m the stable, for, on being made to move over from one side 



