360 VETERINARY LECTURES 



upper eyelid. The teeth are firmly held together, and a frothy dis- 

 charge comes from the mouth. The heart beats fast and loud, while 

 the breathing is suspended for a few moments, and dung and urine 

 are involuntarily ejected. After the convulsive attack has passed, 

 the patient frequently falls into a long deep sleep, from which it 

 awakes, showing little or no ill-effects, with the exception of a slight 

 languor and listlessness. The pig and the dog are the greatest 

 sufferers from this affliction. Young pigs are very often attacked, 

 especially if fed too largely upon badly prepared maize meal. This 

 stuff, therefore, should always be well boiled, and even then used very 

 sparingly amongst young pigs under two months old. Feeding on 

 pollards or parings answers much better, and is certainly safer. In 

 the dog, retarded teething and tape and other worms in the alimentary 

 canal are responsible for most cases of epilepsy. 



592. Treatment of Fits. — When the patient is seized every care 

 should be taken to keep it from injuring itself, and a free access of air 

 should be allowed in all cases. Benefit will be derived from a con- 

 tinual cold-water douche on the head. If the teeth are firmly clinched 

 together, a piece of wood or some other suitable substance must be 

 pressed in between them, to prevent the tongue being injured. After 

 the attack has passed over, a careful examination ought to be made 

 to discover the cause. If the teeth are at fault, the offending ones or 

 shells must be removed, and, if necessary, the gums scarified ; but if 

 worms are suspected, a dose of worm medicine (par. 1074, No. V.), 

 followed by a purgative, should be given. As a nerve sedative, either 

 the bromide of soda or potassium (par. 590) may be administered 

 with advantage. 



593. Puerperal Eclampsia (an Epileptic Form of Nervous Ex- 

 citement). — Several cases of this have come under my observation, 

 in cows on the point of calving as well as in cows that have been 

 calved several days. At first the cow is noticed to be very excitable, 

 paddling with the hind-feet, switching the tail, pointing out the nose, 

 and holding the head upwards and backwards ; the eyes are wild 

 and staring, and the milk secretion is partially suspended — in fact, the 

 animal shows all the early symptoms of an attack of milk fever. 



