io6 



EPILEPSY, FITS, OR THE FALLING SICKNESS. 



This disease very rarely affects the horse, but is often seen, 

 especially in dogs and overfed pigs. The senses of sight 

 and of hearing, and of all the brain functions, are suspended, 

 and the creature contorted with involuntary spasms. 



Besides these symptoms the jaws become closed, the 

 animal falls to the ground, with the tongue protruding, the 

 eyes rolling, and the legs thrown about. 



The attack usually passes off within ten or twenty minutes, 

 leaves the animal dull, and is very apt to return. The 

 disease depends upon some abnormal state of the brain, 

 generally resulting from debility, plethora, constipation, or 

 intestinal worms. 



MEAGRIMS, OR VERTIGO. 



This is the term usually applied when a horse at work 

 reels, and then either stands for a minute dull and stupid, 

 or falls to the ground, and lies there for a few minutes 

 partially insensible. 



These attacks are usually periodical, are most frequent 

 during hot weather, and especially when the animal is draw- 

 ing a load up a hill, or else exposed during heavy work to 

 the full rays of a hot sun. 



Liability to meagrims constitutes unsoundness, but unfor- 

 tunately is not, in ordinary circumstances, detectable by any 

 known test. It differs both from chorea and epilepsy in the 

 absence of spasm, and most probably depends upon the 

 temporary stoppage of the circulation, or from the presence 

 of tumors. 



In many instances it has been traced to the presence of 

 tumors in the choroid plexus, sacculous deposits in the velum 

 interpositum, and enlargement of the pineal gland, and may 

 also, in other cases, result from the circulation of some blood 

 poison. 



Horses subject to this disease should have a collar spe- 

 cially fitted to prevent any pressure on the blood vessels. 



