DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 321 



Vertigo, or dizziness, is apt to occur in dogs, that are 

 overfed, when taken a-field. They may reel, sit down 

 dazed, or fall over, without usually losing consciousness. 

 Generally attention to the digestive tract, and exercise 

 gradually increased, remedy this state of things. 



Apoplexy is a term that has been used for a sudden 

 attack, with loss of consciousness, possibly convulsions, 

 the former not being of brief duration, as in epilepsy, but 

 more lasting. 



The causes are as in the preceding — excitement, etc. 



Diagnosis. — It differs greatly from epilepsy. Usually 

 convulsions are not prominent ; the loss of consciousness is 

 long-continued, or, in fatal cases, permanent, with sterto- 

 rous (loud snoring) breathing, pupils altered, either con- 

 tracted or dilated, and more or less paralysis of one or 

 both sides of the body. 



Causation. — Generally pressure, due mostly to hgemor- 

 rhage within the brain, is the cause. 



Treatment. — No means are known except operation of 

 removing the blood-clot, and in dogs more than in men 

 the location of the clot is difficult. 



We must just wait in the hope that the blood-clot will 

 be absorbed. The treatment is "expectant" — i. e., there 

 is no routine treatment, but symptoms must be combated 

 as they arise. 



Paralysis. — Paresis is the term used for a certain de- 

 gree of loss of voluntary control of the muscles; pa- 

 ralysis, for complete loss. The muscles may still contract 

 rellexly, but not at the command of the will. The defect 

 may be in the brain, spinal cord, nerves, or the muscles 

 themselves. 



