Diseases of the Nervovs System 261 



l)eing slu^ish at work, and falling asleep while eating or 

 drinking, or the ox leaving his fellows and lying down 

 with his head on his flank, his eyelids semi-closed and 

 his pupils dilated. The bowels continue to moTe, passing 

 iad^ested matter and wind, the abdomen is full and the 

 seat of frequent rumbling, and the appetite is retained so 

 that the torpid stomach is still further oyer-distended. 

 This state of things may continue for several days, and is 

 followed by imperfect control over the limbs, hind or fore, 

 so that the subject sways unsteadily in walking, and leans 

 his head on the manger and his quarters on the stall, 

 when in the stable. Sometimes paraplegia is the first 

 sign, drowsiaess being absent throughout. The drow- 

 siaess in time gives place to restless and involuntary 

 actions, jerking of the head, champing of the jaws, pushing 

 the head against the wall, movements of the limbs, walk- 

 ing in a circle or straight forward regardless of obstacles, 

 spriaging or dashing violently about, convulsions, etc. 

 These periods of violence or deMrium occur in paroxysms, 

 leaving intervals of comparative, though not absolute, 

 quiet and stupor. If not carefully secured the animals 

 often kill themselves duriDg one of these paroxysms. . The 

 pulse and breathing are slow at first, but accelerated 

 la the later stages. 



Acute lead poisoning in cattle results from eating red 

 or white paint (often the refuse of paint-pots which has 

 laia for years in the soil), sheet lead, spent bullets, etc., or 

 from drinking from dishes which have held sugar of lead 

 or of soft water that has run through leaden pipes or 

 stood in leaden eistems. The symptoms are usually indis- 

 tinguishable from those abo>Te described, the preliminary 

 dullness and drow^n^ss merging into active delirium, with 

 reckless dashing about and violent bellowing. 



Treatment in all cases consists in stopping the ingestion 

 of the poison and earrjia^ oS from the bowels any that 

 BtiU remains Hhere. Doable &e nsnal amount of purgative 

 medicine most be ffren, wi& gtamnlants, tiiedr aetitm 



