DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 123 



easiness, palpitation, when, if the circumstances which tend to the 

 prostration are not mitigated, the animal staggers or sways from side to 

 side, falls, struggles for awhile, and then gradually becomes quiet, or 

 the struggles may continue, vrith repeated but ineffectual efforts to 

 regain a standing position. In serious cases the attack may be very 

 sudden, unconsciousness occurring without any distressing premonitory 

 symptoms. The less serious form is known to the colored cattle drivers 

 as " overhet " (overheated). 



Treatment. At first, when not very serious, removal to a quiet 

 sheltered place, witli a few days on a reduced diet, is all that need be 

 done. When the animal has fallen, apply cold water or ice to the head; 

 rub the body and limbs with cloths or wisps of straw, and continue the 

 rubbing for a considerable time. If the power of swallowing is not lost 

 (which may be ascertained by pouring a little cold water iuto the 

 mouth), give 3 drams of liquor ammonia fort., diluted with a quart of 

 cold water. Be very careful in drenching the animal when lying down. 

 Kepoat the drench in a half hour, and an hour after the first one has 

 been given. Instead of the ammonia, a drench composed of 3 ounces 

 of spirits of nitrous ether in a pint of water may be given, if more con- 

 venient, but in all cases the ammonia drench is preferable. If uncon- 

 sciousness continues, so that a drench can not be administered, the 

 same quantity of ammonia and water may be injected with a syringe 

 into the rectum. The popular aqua ammonia, commonly called " harts- 

 horn," will do as well as the liquor ammonia fort., but as it is weaker 

 than tin- hitter, the dose for a cow is about one and a half ounce, which 

 >hould be diluted with a quart of water before it is given to the animal, 

 i as a drench or an enema. When ammonia can not be obtained 

 quickly, 2 ounces of oil of turpentine (spirits of turpentine), shaken with 

 a pint of milk, may be injected into the rectum, and will act beneficially 

 until the ammonia is procured. 



As soon as the animal is able to rise, it should be assisted and 

 moved to the nearest shelter. All the cold water it will drink should be 

 allowed. The ammonia or spirits of nitrous ether drench should be 

 administered every three hours, so long as there is much failure of 

 strength. The diet should be limited for several days; bran slops and 

 a little grass. When signs of returning strength are presented, 12 

 ounces of Epsom salts dissolved in a quart of warm water may be given 

 in those cases which have been down and unconscious, but do not give 

 it while much weakness remains, which may be for several days after 

 the attack. It is hardly necessary to mention that when an animal is 

 suffering from heat prostration, bleeding should not be resorted to as 

 a remedial measure. The writer is well aware of the fact that they arc 

 often slaughtered by butchers to save further trouble and probable loss. 



IN.TI'RIES TO THE SPINAL COH1>. 



The spinal cord is liable to commission from blows and falls, and 

 paralysis, to a greater or less extent, may be the result. Fracture, with 



