DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. «6l 



spring, from the dry irritating fibrous grass mixed with the 

 aftermath, or from a sudden change from soft to hard water, 



Symptojns. — The first effect is drowsiness, the horse being 

 sluggish at work, and faUing asleep while eating or drinking, or 

 the ox leaving his fellows and lying down with his head on his 

 flank, his eyelids semi-closed, and his pupils dilated. The 

 bowels continue to move, passing indigested matter and wind, 

 the abdomen is full and the seat of frequent rumbling, and the 

 appetite is retained so that the torpid stomach is still further 

 over-distended. This state of things may continue for several 

 days, and is followed by imperfect control over the limbs, hind 

 or fore, so that the subject sways unsteadily in walking, and 

 leans his head on the manger and his quarters on the stall, 

 when in the stable. Sometimes paraplegia is the first sign, 

 drowsiness being absent throughout. The drowsiness in time 

 gives place to restless and involuntary actions, jerking of the 

 head, champing of the jaws, pushing the head against the wall, 

 movements of the limbs, walking in a circle or straight forward 

 regardless of obstacles, springing or dashing violently about, 

 convulsions, etc. These periods of violence or delirium occur 

 in paroxysms, leaving intervals of comparative, though not 

 absolute, quiet and stupor. If not carefully secured the animals 

 often kill themselves during one of these paroxysms. The 

 pulse and breathing are slow at first, but accelerated in the 

 later stages. 



Acute Lead-Poisoning in cattle results from eating red or 

 white paint (often the refuse of paint-pots which have lain for 

 years in the soil), sheet lead, spent bullets, etc., or from drink- 

 ing from dishes Avhich have held sugar of lead, or of soft water 

 that has run through leaden pipes or stood in leaden cisterns. 

 The symptoms are usually indistinguishable from those above 

 described, the preliminary dulness and drowsiness merging 

 into active delirium, with reckless dashing about and violent 

 bellowing. 



