EPILEPSY— FALLING SICKNESS 265 



Treatment. — During an attack the patient should be 

 unharnessed and made comfortable. Some recommend 

 throwing a blanket over the. head. Ice or cold water to the 

 poll is often of advantage. If the cause of vertigo can be 

 determined and removed, permanent healing is possible. 

 Usually the best results are obtained by changing the harness 

 to avoid constriction of the jugular veins or interference with 

 vision. 



EPILEPSY. FALLING SICKNESS. 



Definition. — ^Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the nervous 

 system, characterized by attacks of unconsciousness and 

 spasms, which occur periodically. 'Between the attacks the 

 patient appears in normal health. 



Occurrence. — Epilepsy is rare in horses and cattle, but is 

 relatively common in dogs. 



Etiology. — ^The causes of epilepsy are not known. In true 

 epilepsy there are no lesions which are characteristic. Hered- 

 ity has been accused. 



Symptoms. — Two forms of epilepsy may be distinguished: 

 The severe type characterized by a complete epileptic con- 

 vulsion (grand mal), and the milder type characterized by 

 incomplete or partial attacks (petit mal). 



Grand Mal. — ^In animals the epileptic seizure comes about 

 suddenly and usually without prodromal symptoms (aiu-a 

 epileptica). The patient falls to the ground after showing 

 symptoms of dizziness, and is rapidly overcome with severe 

 tonic spasms of the head, neck, body, and limbs. The jaws 

 may be locked, the neck and back bent backwardly, and the 

 limbs extended. There are clonic spasms of the lips and the 

 lower jaw, inducing movements of the jaw and foamy saliva- 

 tion. The eyes are rolled in their sockets and the limbs move 

 convulsively. At the sa;me time the patient is unconscious, 

 sensitiveness is lost, and the pupil dilated. The duration of the 

 attack is only for a few minutes. After it is over the animal 

 regains its feet, seems for a time languid, but is soon normal 

 again. Between such attacks the patient appears in perfect 

 health. Attacks follow at very irregular intervals. Epilepsy 

 may exist for years or even during the whole life of the animal. 



Digitized by Microsoft>E) 



