412 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



cause an extraordinary jerking upwards of the affected extremities, 

 after which the foot is brought forcibly to the ground. The disease 

 differs from chorea, as the symptoms are only developed during pro- 

 gression, whereas in chorea the muscular spasms are constant even during 

 sleep. 



In some cases stringhalt is only exhibited occasionally and under 

 special conditions, as when the horse is made to turn sharply round, or 

 when observed while quietly moving in his box, but it generally becomes 

 more pronounced as the animal advances in age or when he is excited. 

 No treatment has been found to be effective in controlling the muscular 

 movements. 



APOPLEXY 



In very hot seasons horses which are called upon to undergo violent 

 exertion are likely to suffer from cerebral derangement due to determina- 

 tion of blood to the vessels of the brain. This condition is correctly 

 described as sunstroke. 



According to the duration of the active causes the final consequences 

 will vary. In the first instance, symptoms will consist of dulness, general 

 depression varied by periods of excitement. If the causes continue, the 

 voluntary movements of the animal may be interfered with, and finally 

 it may fall in a state of unconsciousness. The worst consequence which 

 is to be apprehended is the rupture of some of the overcharged vessels of 

 the brain and escape of blood into the tissue of the organ. If the 

 hemorrhage is sudden and considerable the result will be an apoplectic 

 fit, which may be immediately fatal. The fit will probably be preceded 

 by an irregularity in the animal's movements, trembling, turning round 

 or backing, ending in a sudden fall, loss of consciousness, and possibly 

 death in a few minutes. A partial recovery may, however, take place, 

 and the animal may live for some days or weeks, but a fatal result is 

 almost certain to follow. 



When the hemorrhage is slight the symptoms will be those which have 

 previously been described, i.e. irregular movements followed by drowsiness, 

 from which the animal will gradually recover, but in such instances a small 

 clot of blood may be left in the substance of the brain and lay the founda- 

 tion for future mischief. 



Treatment. On this subject a great difference of opinion exists; 

 bleeding and cold applications are advocated, or, on the other hand, 

 stimulants are suggested in order to overcome the drowsy and depressed 

 state into which the animal has fallen. It is probably the case that ice- 

 bags to the head and bleeding would be beneficial when the animal is 



