Diseases of tJie Nervous System. 231 



collar, if worn, should be removed. In epilepsy the owner 

 should first secure the sufferer to prevent his running 

 away, and as soon as the fit is over cold water should be 

 applied to the head, protection from the sun being 

 meanwhile secured. A dose of purgative medicine should 

 speedily follow, and perfect quietude must be enjoined. 

 The dieting, &c., must be careful, regular meals and 

 digestible food in moderate quantity being allowed ; the 

 nervous irritation and resulting fever may be controlled 

 by regular doses of chloral hydrate, or belladonna. In 

 chronic cases the blister or a seton may be advisable, 

 applied to the head, or the continued internal adminis- 

 tration of bromide of potassium, nitrate of silver, or 

 sulphate of iron. 



Neuralgia. — It is beyond all doubt that dogs under 

 certain circumstances are occasionally liable to neuralgia. 

 The victim of the malady is seized very suddenly, the 

 violent pain being indicated by fits of howling or scream- 

 ing, arising suddenly during states of apparent ease and 

 composure. The head is drawn towards the side or 

 upwards, the animal gradually rising upon the hind feet, 

 finally falling over, and remaining on the ground, crying 

 with intense pain. 



Apoplexy. — This disease is common to the hot 

 months of summer when dogs are put to severe exertion. 

 It also follows sunstroke, especially in long and tedious 

 cases. Tightly fitting collars, and heavy chains, espe- 

 cially when the dog pulls heavily, or when the neck is 

 short, are common causes. Plethoric and idle dogs, 

 especially when old, are predisposed to the disease. It 

 occurs as an effect of severe straining in parturition ; but 

 it may depend also upon sudden suppression of milk 

 immediately before, or at the time of giving birth, when 

 the animal is too plethoric, or as a result of removing 

 the young, and of constipation. 



Symptoms. — In the early or partial stages of uncon- 

 sciousness, the pulse is slow and full, the eyes are blood- 

 shot and fixed, and the pupil dilated ; breathing heavy 

 and stertorous. The animal is sometimes delirious. 



Treatment. — Blood should be abstracted from the 



