320 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



the fits be due to a recognizable cause — as worms, over- 

 feeding, etc. — this must be removed of course. 



Habitual epilepsy had better be treated with bromide 

 of potassium conjoined with some bitter. Sometimes 

 small doses of iodide of potassium prove useful. In all 

 cases of fits special causes of excitement must be removed. 



As the purpose of treatment is to obviate the tendency 

 to irritability of brain-cells and often excess of blood in 

 the head, bromide of potassium will be worth a trial in 

 most cases of convulsions. 



The body should be kept warm and the head cool. 



It is often well to hold a dog quiet and soothe him, and 

 wet the head. In no case should one dog be allowed to 

 see another in a fit, as it may induce a like condition, or 

 produce at least a shock, if it does not cause an attack upon 

 the victim. Dogs at shows sometimes grow very excited. 

 They should be removed to a quiet place, or fits may re- 

 sult ; cold to the head, and bromides, are also indicated. If 

 in any case of fits such measures do not sufiice, the dog may 

 then be placed in a warm bath, the head being kept cool. 



However, on account of the reaction and the danger 

 from cold, this is not to be done unless other measures 

 fail. The convulsions of strychnine poisoning and all 

 forms of fits, when the stomach is very irritable, may be 

 treated by rectal injection of twenty to thirty grains of 

 chloral hydrate. In extreme cases, from whatever cause, 

 when death is threatened by a succession of fits, a little 

 chloroform and ether in equal parts may be cautiously 

 given by inhalation. 



After fits dogs should always be kept in a rather dark, 

 quiet place, free from all excitement for a while. 



