204 



are affected. In spasm of the glottis inhalation of suliDliuric ether will 

 give cxuick relief. In spasm of the diaphragm, rest and the adminis- 

 tration of half an ounce of chloroform in 3 ounces of whisky, with a 

 pint of water added, will generally sufiice to bring relief, or if tliis fails 

 give 5 grains of sulphate of morphia by hypodermic injection. If 

 spasms result from organic disease of the nervous system, the latter 

 should receive such treatment as its character demands. In cramp of 

 the leg comi)ulsor3Mnovement usually causes relaxation very quickly; 

 therefore, tlie animal should be led out of the stable and be forced to 

 run or trot. Sudden nervous excitement, caused by a crack of the 

 whip or smart blow, will often bring about immediate relief. Should 

 this fail, the anodyne liniment may be used along the inside of the 

 thigh, and chloroform, ether, or laudanum given internally. An ounce 

 of the chloral hydrate will certainly relieve the spasm when given inter- 

 nally, but the cranii) may return soon after the effect has passed off, 

 which in many cases it does very quickly. 



ConvuIsio)}s. — Although there is no disease of the nervous system 

 which can be pro^jerly termed convulsive, or justify the use of the 

 word convulsion to indicate any particular disease, yet it is often such 

 a prominent symiitom that a few words may not be out of place. Gen- 

 eral, irregular muscular contractions of various parts of the body, 

 with unconsciousness, characterize what we regard as convulsions, 

 and like ordinary spasms are dependent upon some disease or irrita- 

 tion of the nervous structures, chiefly of the brain. No treatment is 

 required; in fact, a general convulsion must necessaril}^ be self-limited 

 in its duration. Suspending, as it does, respiratory movements, check- 

 ing the oxj'genation and decarbonization of the blood, the rapid accu- 

 mulation of carbonic acid gas in the blood and the exclusion of oxygen 

 quickly puts the blood in a condition to produce the most reliable and 

 speedy sedative effect upon the nerve excitability that could be found, 

 and consequently furnishes its own remedy, so far as the continuance 

 of the convulsive paroxysm is concerned. Whatever treatment is 

 instituted must be directed towards a removal of the cause of the con- 

 vulsive paroxysm. 



CHOREA. 



Chorea is characterized by involuntary contractions of voluntary 

 muscles. This disease is an obscure disorder, which may be due to 

 pressure upon a nerve, cerebral sclerosis, small aneurisms in the 

 brain, etc. Choreic symptoms have been produced by injecting 

 granules of starch into the arteries entering the brain. Epilejisj^ and 

 other forms of convulsions simulate chorea in appearance. 



Sfringhalt is by some termed chorea. This is manifested by a sud- 

 den jerking-up of one or both hind legs when the animal is walking. 

 This symi^ton may be very slight in some horses, but has a tendency 

 to increase witli tlie age of the animal. In some the catching-up of the 



