156 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



one dram of the powdered nux vomica twice a day 

 for two weeks, then skip a week and repeat if nec- 

 essary; the medicine can be given in bran mash 

 or oatmeal gruel. Also rub the back and hips once 

 a day with soap liniment for a few days, and if the 

 skin becomes tender wait for a few days and begin 

 again. The majority of cases thus treated recover. 



Spasms and Convulsions. — Spasms are an invol- 

 untary contraction of the muscles, occurring inde- 

 pendent of the will, and attended with pain. They 

 remain for a long time or pass off suddenly. I have 

 seen cramps of the muscles of the stifle last for 

 days, the spasm coming on as soon as the animal 

 moved. Robertson says all these phenomena of 

 motor disturbance are probably referable to inter- 

 ference with some portion or other of the nerve 

 centers, this interference extending nearly to irri- 

 tation, inducing discharges of nerve force, not 

 reaching the extent of destruction of nerve tissue. 



Symptoms: The animal is seized with a cramp 

 or spasm in some of its muscles, and for the time 

 is unable to move them. It may pass off in 

 a few minutes, not to return, or it may remain for 

 a long time. 



Treatment: In cases where it does not pass 

 off quickly, give the animal a dose of physic; 

 for the horse, aloes one ounce, one ounce of carbon- 

 ate of soda, and one ounce ground ginger, dissolved 

 in half a pint of boiling water; add half a pint of 

 cold water, and give at one dose. Follow this, by 

 giving two ounces bromide of potassium in bran 

 mash three times a day for a few days. Rub the 



