120 VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGEKT. 



costive, and that it is better for the patient if they can be regulated 

 without physic. 



As to the medical treatment, there is a great diversity of opinion 

 amongst practitioners as to what is the right mode. Some bleed and purge, 

 generally with bad results; others blister the spine anterior to the seat 

 of inflammation (as indicated by pressure), with a mixture of turpentine 

 and mustard, with the idea that the disease is on a march from the 

 brain, and that this will put an effective barrier in its path. Bella- 

 donna, colchicum, sal ammoniac, carbonate of ammonia, and many other 

 substances, have been used with better or worse results. The use of 

 atropine, injected subcutaneously : 



Sulphate of atropine Til v. 



Or, in place of this, take of 



Belladonna 3 iij. 



Ergot I i. 



Make into a ball, and give one, two or three times a day, 



to be followed by stimulants and tonics during convalescence, but the 

 stimulants must be used cautiously at first. 



Whatever treatment is adopted, the aim should be to reduce the sup- 

 ply of blood to the cord, and keep the general circulation in as normal a 

 condition as possible, at the same time keeping up the animal strength 

 as much as we are able. If, after two or three days, the bowels continue 

 costive, and do not respond to an enema, a physic ball : 



Aloes - . . . 3 vi. 



Ginger 3 ij. 



Molasses suflScient 



may be given. 



EPILEPSY. 



Synonym.— Fits. 



Definition. — A disease of the nervous system, characterized by r^d- 

 den convulsions ; not very common in the horse. 



Etiology. — Not as yet satisfactorily demonstrated. 



