EPILEPSY. 



171 



toms violent ; or should it be found to be impossible to give medicines 

 by the mouth, or cause them to act b}^ injection, the most prudent 

 thing Avill be to have recourse to the butcher. The meat will not be 

 in the slightest degree injured, for it is a disease that is rarely 

 accompanied by any great degree of fever. There have been cases of 

 cure of locked jaw by the use of cold water ; it is to be applied 

 in a stream (the douche), with some little fall along the back from 

 the head to the tail, and continuously for hours if necessary. Re- 

 laxation will occur sooner or later. This may be added to other 



means. 



Homoeopathic treatment. — Nux vomica has proved very efficacious. 

 It is administered in repeated doses, at first several times a day, then 

 every two or three days. If any rigidity remain in the limbs, ^arseni- 

 ciim is prescribed, after which it is right almost always to recur to 

 nnx vomica. In some cases where the animal had not recovered 

 appetite, benefit has been obtained from ipecacuanha. Belladonna 

 mercv^ius vivus, and veratrum have also been useful. 



EPILEPSY. 



This is of rare occurrence, but not easy to treat when it appears. 

 It attacks animals of all ages, but chiefly those under three years old* 

 There are few symptoms of the approach of the fit, except, perhaps,* 

 a httle dullness or heaviness. All at once, the beast stao-o-ers— falls • 

 sometimes he utters the most frightful bellowings ; It others he 

 make no noise, but every limb is convulsed ; the heaving of the flanks 

 IS particularly violent, and would scarcely be credited unless seen ; 

 the jaws are either firmly clenched, or there is grinding of the teeth 

 and a frothy fluid is plentifully discharged from the mouth, mixed 

 with portions of the food, which seem to have been prepared for 

 rumination. The faeces and the urine flow involuntarily. 



Sometimes these symptoms do not continue more than a few 

 seconds ; at others the fit lasts several minutes, and then the con- 

 vulsions become less violent— gradually cease, and the beast ^ets up 

 boks about, seems unconscious of what has happened— at length 

 begins to graze as before. ^ 



This disease is usually to be traced to some mismanagement with 

 regard to the food. It oftenest attacks young cattle in hio-h con- 

 dition who have lately been turned on better pasture than irsual, or 

 who have been exposed to some temporary excitement from over- 

 driving, or the heat of the weather. It is a species of verticro or 

 staggers— a sudden determination of blood to the head ; and & the 

 farmer does not take warning, mischief will result. 



A very serious part of this business is, that the haUt of fits is soon 

 lormed. ihe first is frequently succeeded by a second, and at length 

 three or four will occur in a day. 



