120 DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



excitation, I expose my patient more cautiously to the influence of those 

 things which make so much impression on his little but susceptible mind. 



If the fit has resisted other means, bleeding should be resorted to. A fit in 

 other animals is generally connected with dangerous determination of blood 

 to the head, and bleeding is imperative. A fit in the dog may be the con- 

 sequence of sudden surprise and irritation. If I had the means I should 

 see whether I could not break the charm ; whether I could not get rid of 

 the disturbance, by suddenly affecting the nervous system, and the system 

 generally, in another way. I would seize him by the nape of the neck, 

 and, with all my force, dash a little cold water in his face. The shock 

 of this has often dispersed the epileptic agency, as it were by magic, I 

 would give an emeto-purgative ; a grain or a grain and a half of calomel 

 and the same quantity of tartar emetic : I would soothe and coax the poor 

 animal. Then, and if I saw it at the beginning, I would do it early, if 

 the fit was more dependent upon, or was beginning to be connected with, 

 determination of blood to the head, and not on any temporary cause of ex- 

 citation or irritation, I would bleed freely from the jugular. 



The following singular case of epilepsy is narrated by M. W. Leblanc : 



A dog of small size, three years old, was very subject to those epileptic 

 fits that are so frequent among dogs. After a considerable period, the fits 

 would cease, and the animal recover the appearance of perfect health ; but 

 the more he advanced in age the more frequent were the fits, which is con- 

 trary to that which usually happens. 



The last fit was a very strong one, and was followed by peculiar 

 symptoms. The animal became dispirited. The eyes lost their usual 

 lively appearance, and the eyelids were often closed. The dog was very 

 drowsy, and, during sleep, there were observed, from time to time, spas- 

 modic movements, principally of the head and chest. He always lay down 

 on the left side. When he walked, he had a marked propensity to turn to 

 the left. 



M. Leblanc employed purgatives, a seton to the back part of the neck, 

 and the application of the cautery to the left side of the forehead ; but 

 nothing would stop the progress of the disease, and he died in the course 

 of two months after the last fit. The nearer he approached his end the 

 smaller were the circles that he took ; and, in the latter part of his exist- 

 ence, he did little more than turn as if he were on a pivot, and, when the 

 time arrived that he could walk no more, he used to lay himself down on 

 the right side. 



On the post-mortem examination, a remarkable thickness of the meninges 

 was found on almost the whole of the left lobe of the brain. The dura 

 mater, the two leaves of the arachnoid membrane, and the pia mater did 

 not constitute more than one membrane of the usual thickness, and 

 presented a somewhat yellow colouring. The cerebral substance of the 

 left lobe appeared to be a little firmer than that of the right lobe. The 

 fissures of the cerebral convolutions were much less deep than those of 

 the other side. The red vessels which ran in the fissures were of smaller 

 size, and in some places could scarcely be discovered. 



CHOREA. 



This is an irregular reception or distribution of nervous power a con- 

 vulsive involuntary twitching of some muscle or set of muscles. It is an 



