DISEASES. 39 



"The top of the head is often affected and twitches and throbs in a most 

 peculiar manner, and the jerking is commonly observable about the muscles of the 

 eyelids, lips and face. In severe cases of chorea the general health is affected, and 

 the animal shows signs of suffering probably due to anxiety and appreciation of its 

 helplessness. In mild cases it does not affect the animal's general health and some 

 field dogs have it all their lives without affecting their usefulness. The owner, 

 however, is annoyed by the constant muscuar movements and is always anxious to 

 effect a cure. Some cases are quiet during sleep, others are worse. 



"Treatment. Although the disease occurs in the best regulated kennels, de- 

 spite he most careful treatment of distemper, it does not alter the fact that dogs 

 properly treated for distemper and worms and well housed arid fed are less liable 

 to the disease than those which are neglected. 



"The first thing to do is to look after the animal's general health. See that 

 the bowels act promptly and this is accomplished best by dieting and the feeding of 

 foods possessing laxative properties and not by resorting to physics. If there is 

 the slightest suspicion of worms treat for them, as they torment the nervous sys- 

 tem beyond all measure and are the cause of many attacks. 



"Feed regularly and carefully, and if there is a tendency to constipation use 

 well boiled oatmeal. Mutton broths with stale bread, beef well boiled or raw lean 

 beef chopped fine. From two to five grains of pepsin and one-half grain of diastase 

 can be given after each meal, to assist the stomach in the process of digestion. If 

 there is .much debility and weakness given emulsion of cod liver oil in doses of 

 from one teaspoont'ul to two or three tablespoonfuls three or four times a day. 



"The drugs principally used are nux voinica o'r strychnine and arsenic. Soniv? 

 I practitioners use a dose of nux vomica in the morning and arsenic at night. As 

 both of these drugs are poisonous they must be used with care. The dose of nux 

 vomica is from two to twelve drops of the tincture twice a day. It is a valuable 

 j" vegetable, bitter, and an aid to digestion as well as a nerve stimulant. Any stiff- 

 ness of the muscles or tendency to spasms is an indication for its immediate dis- 

 continuance. 



"Fowler's Solution of Arsenic is the most convenient form. The dose is from 

 one to thirty drops Give a drop at first, increasing it one drop a day up to the 

 larger dose, then gradually decreasing and discontinue for a time, and whenever 

 there is any constitutional symptoms of its effects, such as reddened or fullness 

 under the eye, nausea, whitish tongue, etc. 



"The following pills are highly recommended by many who have used them. 

 As some of the ingredients are poisonous, they should be prepared by a qualified 

 druggist or pharmacy graduate. Strychnine one grain, extract of belladonna six 

 grains, extract of gentian one dram, gipsin three drams. Mix carefully and divide 

 into forty-eight pills, one of which is to be given night and morning in the 

 patient's food. This dose is for a dog weighing from thirty to fifty pounds. 



"The medicines heretofore mentioned are, in their action, purely alterative and 

 nerve stimulating; in connection with them may be mentioned the use of the elec- 

 trical current from a surgeon's battery. Obstinate and apparently incurable cases 

 sometimes show a decided improvement, and radical cures are effected, in response 

 to a gentle stimulating current of electricity. One electrode should be applied to 

 the neck directly over the spinal cord, the other to the extremity of the affected 

 leg, and the electrical stimulation continued for from five to thirty minutes twice a 

 day. The beneficial effects from a careful massage of the leg and a manipulation 

 of the muscles cannot be overestimated. Besides breaking down adhesions or 



