36 Veterinary Medicine. 



to compress the medulla and stupefy the animal. This is supposed 

 to be rendered more effective by passing one turn each between 

 the upper lip and gums and between the lower lip and the gums. 



CATAI^EPSY. 



Definition. Tetanic and paralytic forms. Balance of flexors and extensors 

 Cataleptoid. No constant lesion. Hysterical. Hypnotic. Subjects ; borse, ox, 

 wolf, cat, chicken, Guineapig, snake, frog, crayfish. Causes : strong mental 

 impression, Indigestion, etc, in susceptible system. Lesion : inconstant, 

 muscular degeneration, etc. Symptoms : wax like retention of position 

 given, voluntary movement in abeyance, mental functions impaired, secre- 

 tions altered. Duration and frequency variable. Treatment: shock ; cold ; 

 ammonia, pepper, snuff, electricity, amyle nitrite, nitro- glycerine, apomor- 

 phine, bromides, purgatives, bitters, iron, zinc, silver, open air exercise. 



Definition. This is a functional nervous disorder, characterized 

 by paroxysms of impaired or perverted consciousness, diminished 

 sensibility, and above all a condition of muscular rigidity, by 

 means of which the whole body, or it may be but one or more 

 limbs retain any position in which they may be placed. 



I^aycock describes two forms in man — the catochus or tetanic 

 form, and the paralytic form. Mills would restrict the name cat- 

 alepsy to cases in which the muscular tone is such that the affect- 

 ed part may be bent or moulded like wax or a leaden pipe, and 

 will not vary from this. when left alone. Other forms in which 

 this waxen flexibility (flexibilitas cerea) is absent or imperfect 

 he would designate as catalepoid. 



The disease is not associated with any constant cerebral lesion, 

 though it may supervene in the course of other nervous disorders, 

 and therefore may own an exciting cause in existing lesions of 

 the brain. The immediate cause must however be held to be 

 functional, and this is in keeping with its most common form in 

 man (hysterical), and with the hypnotic form which is observed 

 both in man and animals. This latter may be looked on as 

 a form of induced or hypnotic sleep, in which the retention of the 

 position given to a limb or part is the most prominent symptom. 

 In all cases there is an impaired condition of the sensory func- 

 tions of the cerebral convolutions, and an insusceptibility of the 

 motor centres to the control of the will, or the reflex stimulus. 



