Diseases of the Nervous System. 267 



the poor dog ; but which, I am happy to say, is usually 

 made, not by veterinarians, but by misguided policemen, 

 with the usual mob to back them up. I remember reading, 

 some few years since, in a leading paper, of madness in 

 dogs, in which article the writer, if he had been a profes- 

 sional man, could not have more faithfully described the 

 leading symptoms of epilepsy. Sudden reeling, falling over, 

 foaming at the mouth, and convulsions are not diagnostic 

 of rabies. Hence, it is from the mistake these symptoms 

 engender, from not being understood, that a panic is, from 

 time to time, created in otherwise peaceful districts by 

 such newspaper headings as "A mad dog at large," " Out- 

 break of rabies, exciting scene," and such like. 



Not long ago I was walking to town with a young mastiff- 

 dog. Soon after starting he vomited a quantity of worms ; 

 half a mile farther on an epileptic fit seized him, and being 

 on a main road, innumerable suggestions of rabies were 

 offered, with kind offers of destruction. However, the animal 

 was secured by his chain to a post, a cold water douche given, 

 and shortly afterwards a gig conveyed him safely home. 



Epilepsy may take place at any age ; but youth and old 

 age are the two most susceptible periods. 



Predisposing Causes. — Hereditary disposition, nervous 

 irritability, general debility, suckling large families. 



Exciting Causes. — Worms, dentition, suppression of 

 natural secretions and evacuations, sudden fear or excite- 

 ment, over-exertion after feeding, rapid exertion in obese 

 condition, and toomuch fleshmeat — especially in youngdogs. 



Symptoms. — Epilepsy, as a riile, is not ushered in by any 

 premonitory warning. The animal, apparently in perfect 

 health, is in a moment seized with a fit, and this generally 

 occurs during locomotion. He suddenly reels, as though 

 intoxicated ; falls on his side ; and violent convulsive spasms 

 attack the voluntary muscles, especially of the limbs, which 

 keep up a continuous kicking motion. Frequently a sharp 

 cry escapes the animal when he falls, and these are at times 



