566 NERVOUS DISEASES. 



or influenza. Some of these cases present such acute symptoms 

 of cerebro-spinal disease as to cause the greatest alarm. There 

 is great constitutional disturbance, shown by pulse and respirations 

 being doubled in frequency. Partial paralysis of the hind ex- 

 tremities is seen. Muscles of neck, back and quarters are rigid. 

 Movement either backwards or forwards is almost impossible, and 

 the countenance expresses fear and pain combined. As a rule, the 

 symptoms gradually subside, and the horse resumes work with no 

 inability save that shown when backed." 



In a few cases, the spasms appear in the fore limbs. Sometimes, 

 bad shiverers are subject to more or less severe paroxysms of 

 spasms, which may be complicated with distressed breathing, and 

 high temperature, and which pass off after a time, only to return 

 on future occasions. 



Paralysis, as in kumree (p. 543), is not a symptom of shivering. 



COURSE AND GRAVITY.— In almost all oases, shivering runs 

 a chronic course, is incurable, and gets worse with age. Hence, it 

 is an extremely grave unsoundness. Some bad shiverers work 

 fairly well between the shafts, but, as a rule, it is best to use them 

 in the plough, or as leaders, so as to avoid, as far as practicable, 

 straining them by backing and turning them. 



PREDISPOSITION AND CAUSES.— Hereditary predisposition 

 is undoubtedly a strong factor in the production of this disease. 

 It is not uncommon among the cart horse and vanner type of 

 animal, but it very rarely attacks ponies or well-bred horses. Town 

 work seems to predispose horses to it, more than agricultural 

 labour. Geldings are usually considered to be more susceptible 

 to it than mares ; the reasion probably being that there are more 

 of the former than of the latter in cities. As a rule, it affects 

 only horses which have been put to work, although cases of it 

 have been met with in young, unbroken animals. It is said to be 

 more common in Scotland than elsewhere. 



No exact information has been obtained respecting the cause 

 of shivering. Excitement and injury hasten its development, but 

 they cannot be regarded as producers of shivering, because their 

 effect in that direction is practically inert on well-bred horses. As 

 the raising of the feet in shoeing will cause a shiverer much distress, 

 its remembrance will generally bring on a more or less severe 

 paroxysm when he is again taken to be shod. In susceptible 

 horses, the symptoms are often seen for the first time after a 

 railway journey. Some persons regard casting (as, for instance, for 

 castration) and docking as causes of shivering, but no proof has 

 been advanced in support of either of these suppositions. 



