DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 155 



CHAPTER X. 



DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



The diseases of the nervous system of the horse 

 are more common of late years than formerly, and 

 in some sections of the country. Through the 

 State of Illinois some years there are a number of 

 young horses affected with what is called the 

 "wabbles," where the animal partially loses the 

 use of its hind legs, and if not treated in time will 

 usually prove fatal. The cause of this derange- 

 ment is not known. It is usually common in the 

 autumn and spring months. 



Symptoms: The animal is first noticed, when 

 walking, to suddenly twist its hind parts tq one 

 side and wabble a little, then regain the use of 

 the legs, and go on all right for a lew steps or a 

 longer distance, then go through the same move- 

 ments, and in the majority of cases they usually 

 get worse until they wabble all the time, and some 

 of them when down cannot get up without help, 

 and soon die. I have treated a great many such 

 cases. Keep the animal in a loose box or small 

 yard, and give it in the early stage of the disease 

 one dram of iodide of potassium night and morning 

 in bran mash; half the quantity for a colt one year 

 old. Continue this for one week, then give a dram 

 of the fluid extract of mix vomica twice a day, or 



