360 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
tle, so as to avoid fright and injury. Studiously clean off from the lips and 
fur all remnants of the medicine, for the cat will not lick it off if it is dis- 
tasteful, and its presence will be annoying. It is a good rule to withhold 
food for two hours after a remedy has been given, unless special directions 
to the contrary are mentioned in any particular place. 
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CONVULSIONS.—FITS. 
Among the causes of fits the principal is overfeeding with meat, 
especially when young. Cats should have but a small quantity of meat once 
aday. The best diet for a cat under one year of age is milk, oatmeal and 
milk, or plain bread and milk. 
Fits are generally of such short duration that but little can be done for 
mstant relief. If they last more than a minute, a whiff of chloroform, 
ether or ammonia may do good. In order to prevent them from running 
into the fire or injuring furniture or ornaments in their wild and delirious 
action, throw a shawl or sheet over them and hold them quiet. The preven- 
tive or after-treatment is the most important. 
TREATMENT.—The diet must be carefully watched, and if they are 
fat, put them ona low diet. If they are poor and lean, give them reg- 
ularly milk and a little raw meat twice a day. If the disorder arises from 
worms, give santonine (one-tenth grain in milk every three or four hours 
for two or three days). A cat with fits should be watched, and if her faces 
or vomit contain worms, you may be sure that worms are the cause. If 
the cat is very poor and scrawny, give half a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil 
three times a day. If the fits are frequent and the cat is rigid, or stiffly 
convulsed, give nux-vomica three times a day (a few pellets or grains of the 
third trituration, or a spoonful of a solution of one or two drops of the 
tincture in half a glass of water). If the eyes are red and blood-shot and 
the head is hot, give belladonna in the same dose as nux vomica. 
DELIRIUM. 
Cats often have attacks of delirium, which may be mistaken for 
fits, though there are no true convulsions. The animalis discovered with 
staring eyes and bristly fur, rushing here and there in a terrible manner. 
It tries to climb up the wall or break through a window, and ends by 
plunging into the darkest corner, and mews piteously or screams frightfully. 
Here it will remain and die unless attended to. 
TREATMENT.—Put on a pair of thick gloves or mittens, grasp the cat 
firmly by the nape of the neck, wrap a shawl around the body, and 
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