90 DISEASES OF THE GREYHOUND, 



mode in which irritants act upon the nerves, but we do know, 

 by experience, that it is only in a state of depression that any 

 permanent impression can be produced upon the nervous system. 

 Hence in a strong, healthy, young dog, worms will scarcely produce 

 any effect at all, but let the same animal be subjected to any 

 lowering disease (distemper or influenza, or what not), and the 

 irritation speedily produces chorea, which will not be removed till 

 the worms themselves are got rid of. True chorea often goes on 

 to shaking palsy, which is only another symptom of the same 

 disease, but which is distinguished from it by its persisting during 

 sleep, while chorea always disappears during that state of repose 

 of the brain and nervous system. 



THE TREATMENT should consist in the removal of the cause by 

 appropriate remedies, and in the restoration of tone to the nervous 

 system by tonics, generally of a metallic nature. Now the causes 

 of chorea are various. In the first place, the mischief is often in 

 the brain and spinal cord, in consequence of the congestion of that 

 organ in distemper. For this a seton should be inserted in the 

 neck, and the shower-bath applied to the head daily by means of the 

 rose of a watering-pot, of course taking care to dry the skin after- 

 wards, and to protect the body during its application by a water- 

 proof cloth. If worms are the cause, they must first be got rid of 

 by the remedies hereafter to be described, and should bad food, 

 or any indigestible substance in particular, be suspected as the 

 fountain of evil, then a simple dose of calomel, jalap, and rhubarb 

 will be the appropriate remedy. As soon as the original cause 

 is removed one step only is gained, for we must not expect the 



