66 DADD'S +» LTERINARY Mi&DICINE AND SURGERY. 
-Cuuses.—These are very obscure, except in cases uf fracture of 
the spine, or injury to the same, by falling. Then the disease is 
accounted for. It always ends in paraplegia—palsy of hind limbs. 
Symptoms.—The disease is usually sudden in its attack. A pro- 
fuse perspiration ushers it in; next, the hind limbs fail to support 
the bedy, and the animal makes desperate efforts to support him- 
self, and gradually crouches and falls to the ground, unable, per 
haps, ever to get up again. 
It has been noticed that paraplegia may also be vcecasic ned by 
effusion of serum within the coverings of the spinal cord; yet we 
can not demonstrate the fact only by autopsy; and if we could, I 
fear that medicine would be of iittle value. However, if it is the 
owner’s wish that the case should be treated, then the same course 
as recommended for cerebral apoplexy must be pursued. 
Eprtepsy— Fits. 
Epilepsy consists of a temporary suspension of consciousness, 
This disease, if properly managed, is not often fatal. It varies in 
duration. Sometimes a horse will suddenly fall, lose all sensibility 
and consciousness, exhibit spasmodic contraction of the voluntary 
muscles, go into convulsions, recover, and get up again in the course 
of ten minutes; or he may lie on the ground and have a succession 
of paroxysms, which may last for half an hour or more. If pro- 
tracted beyond an hour or so, the patient is very apt to die. Ac- 
cording to the best authority, “the functions that are affected in 
this disease are functions of the brain. Sensation, thought, and mo- 
tion, regulated by the will, are the natural functions of that organ. 
The temporary abeyance of sensibility, thought, and volition,* and 
violent and irregular action of the muscles, which are thus with- 
drawr. from the government of the will, constitute a paroxysm cf 
epilepsy.” 
The fit is generally brought on by a derangement in the relati_s 
between the arterial and venous circulation within the head and a 
temp.rzry pressure on the brain; in other words, a determination 
* Horses think and reason just as man does. Their manifestations of mind do 
not differ from ours in kind, but only in degree. “The noble and daring war- 
horse, when he sniffs the distant field of blood, neighing for joy, instils a desper- 
ate courage into the veteran trooper’s quailing heart, gives evileace of a seal, 
ube prover attribute of man.” 
