DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 103 



slops occasionally in small quantities, or grass, if in season, which 

 may be cut and carried fresh to the patient. 



The skull must be examined and if sign of injury is found appro- 

 priate surgical treatment should be given. 



During the convulsions all possible efforts should be made to pre- 

 vent the animal injuring itself. The head should be held down on 

 the ground and straw kept under it. Cold water may be continuously 

 poured on the head, or bags filled with ice broken in small pieces 

 may be applied to the head. Different authors recommend different 

 remedies to allay the convulsions, but for two reasons it will be found 

 extremely difficult to administer medicines during the convulsions: 

 (1) While the animal is unconscious the power to swallow is lost, and 

 therefore the medicine is more liable to go down the windpipe to the 

 lungs than it is to go to the paunch; (2) The convulsions are often 

 so violent that it would be utterly useless to attempt to drench the 

 animal; and furthermore it must be borne in mind that during this 

 stage the functions of digestion and absorption are suspended, and as 

 a consequence the medicine (provided it finds its way to the paunch) 

 is likely to remain there unabsorbed and therefore useless. 



A blistering compound, composed of mustard, 1 ounce; pulverized 

 cantharides, one-half ounce; hot water, 4 ounces, well mixed together, 

 may be rubbed in over the loins, along the spine, and back of the 

 head on each side of the neck. This is occasionally attended with 

 beneficial effect, and especially so in those cases when paralysis is 

 present. 



If the purgative acts and the animal shows signs of improvement 

 in the course of two or three days, 2 drams of iodid of potassium may 

 be given every night and morning, dissolved in a half bucketful of 

 drinking water, if the animal will drink it, or it may be dissolved in a 

 half pint of water and given as a drench. Great care must be observed 

 in regard to the food, which should be nutritive, but not coarse, and at 

 first in small quantities, gradually increased as the patient improves. 

 After some progress is made toward recovery l-£ drams of pulverized 

 nux vomica may be given twice a day, added to the iodid of potas- 

 sium drench. This should be administered so long as a staggering 

 gait continues. 



In those rare cases when recovery takes place it is only partial as a 

 rule, as there is generally a sequel which remains, such as partial 

 paralysis. However, this is but a slight drawback in cattle, because 

 when it is seen to persist the medicine should be stopped and the ani- 

 mal fattened for butchering. 



Postmortem examinations discover congestion of the brain and its 

 membranes. In those cases which have exhibited much paralysis of 

 the hind legs before death the cord may be congested in the lumbar 

 region (loins). When the disease has been caused by injury to the 

 head, the congestion and extravasated blood may be found inside of 



