248 THE FARM DOCTOR. 



change of brain structure. Thus, in dogs it follows distemper, 

 or depends on teething, worms in the .stomach or intestines, or 

 acari (pentastoma) in the nasal sinuses. In pigs indigestible 

 substances in the stomach may determine it. Brown-Sequard 

 showed how it could be developed at will in Guinea-pigs by 

 tickling the neck, and has even produced it in the human subject. 

 In all animals it may be looked on as, generally, a reflex act. 

 Abscesses, tumours, etc., of the brain have been found in 

 certain instances in horses, and the malady has supervened on 

 a severe fright and chase, or a broken horn, or other injury to 

 the head in cows. Probably in these cases the disease of the 

 brain has rendered it more susceptible to the impression 

 coming from a distant part of the body. The disease has 

 proved hereditary in cattle. 



Symptoms. — Sudden loss of sensation and voluntary move- 

 ment, with convulsive contraction of the muscles of the trunk 

 and limbs. The patient may or may not appear dull or stupid 

 for some time, but the attack is always 'sudden, the victim 

 crying, falling to the ground, stiffening all over, with clenched 

 jaws, frothing at the lips, and fixed red eyeballs. The attack 

 may last for one or several minutes, after which the muscles 

 relax and the animal becomes conscious but retains considerable 

 dulness or languor for a day or more. The attacks are more or 

 less frequent according to the activity of the exciting cause. 



Treatment. — Remove the causes — worms or other irritants 

 in the intestinal canal or elsewhere :— in excitable plethoric 

 animals restrict diet and give more exercise ; in the bloodless, 

 feed highly and give iron and bitters ; in dyspeptic pigs give 

 sound food and bitters (gentian, quassia, camomile, boneset, 

 serpentaria, myrrh) with iron. In excitable stallions castration 

 IS usually needful. During the attack inhalations of chloroform 

 or ether, or the injection of these agents or of chloral-hydrate 

 will serve to cut short the attack. If dependent on irritation 

 of some known part of the surface, attacks may be obviated by 



