230 Diseases of the Nervous System, 



lesions of the spinal cord. Worms in the stomach are 

 also set down as common causes. 



Syinpto7ns. — During severe exertion or unusual excite- 

 ment the sufferer ceases his efforts, or they are perceptibly 

 controlled, exhibits a look of distress and suddenly falls, 

 foaming at the mouth with convulsive movements of the 

 jaws, often attended with injury to the tongue ; the limbs 

 being stretched at full length are rigid and tremulously 

 shaking, or they are violently convulsed. The eyes are 

 unusually prominent, but covered with the lids, which if 

 separated admit of our seeing the rapid rolling movement 

 of the organs, or otherwise the state of strabismus or 

 squinting. The respirations are loud or stertorous, and 

 the pulse is unusually rapid and irregular if not totally 

 imperceptible. Fasces and urine are voided involuntarily, 

 but signs of perspiration are not common. A succession 

 of attacks may prove fatal ; but in early or slight cases 

 the fit passes off in ten or fifteen minutes, and conscious- 

 ness returns, leaving the animal dazed and weak, some- 

 times desiring to sleep or to run away from the cause of 

 his seizure. Epilepsy is frequently confounded with 

 rabies. 



Vertigo. — This disease may be also mistaken for 

 epilepsy. The Syfnptoms are short fits of insensibility or 

 fainting, seldom occupying more than a few minutes, 

 which may be preceded by a staggering gait, irregular 

 movements of the limbs, and entire absence of convul- 

 sions. As the animal falls, so he lies, and on regaining 

 consciousness, appears as well as before the attack. Dogs 

 in confinement wearing a tight collar and heavy chain 

 are sometimes sufferers. In the days of dog carts, when 

 the breast collar was fitting badly and too tightly, 

 pressing on the lower part of the neck, vertigo was 

 common in this country ; but now we look for other 

 causes, as possible disease of the stomach, liver, heart, 

 pericardium, &c., and the mechanical effect of broncho- 

 cele. In the tropics, softening of the liver is the common 

 cause. 



Treatment. — In both the foregoing affections the 

 application of cold water to the head will be useful. The 



