Epilespy. Falling Sickness. 53 



of a liberal flesh diet. By a vegetable and fruit diet he reduces 

 the ingestion and formation of uric acid, so that the largest 

 quantity which a patient is likely to get into his blood, shall 

 never or only very rarely, affect the blood pressure and increase 

 the intra-cranial circulation to a dangerous extent. In predis- 

 posed subjects, all flesh food, soup, and meat extracts must be 

 avoided, while even tea, coffee, cocoa and other vegetable arti- 

 cles containing zanthin compounds are to be regarded as pro- 

 ducing uric acid, and to be denied, or employed only as the 

 merest flavoring. 



This position is greatly strengthened by the fact that epilepsy 

 is so much more frequent in the carnivora (dog, cat, bird) than 

 in the herbivora. It also suggests very strongly a light vege- 

 table diet for both prophylactic and curative purposes in our 

 domestic animals. In the same line the frequent a,^ liberal 

 drinking of warm^ water, the use of diuretic^ and the flushing of 

 the large intestine are indicated. 



For other causes see under pathology. 



Symptoms in the Horse. It has been claimed that premoni- 

 tory symptoms, such as dullness, lack of energy and quick, ner- 

 vous or startled movements herald an attack, but in animals as 

 in man, the disease usually attacks suddenly without any ante- 

 cedent indication. 



If at work the horse stops suddenly, or if in the stable he 

 ceases eating, seems frightened, stands for an instant immovable, 

 braces his feet, sways, trembles, and falls heavily to the ground. 

 Or he may remain for an instant supported on his rigid limbs, 

 the jaws moving or firmly closed, the eyes rolling, and 'the facial 

 muscles drawn or twitching. When down there are convulsive 

 movements of the limbs, so that the animal may kick out violent- 

 ly, and tense contractions or twitchings may occur in the muscles 

 of the croup, chest and abdomen. There is usually an increase 

 of the salivary secretion with frothy accumulation about the 

 angles of the mouth. The respiration is stertorous, dyspnoeic, 

 and interrupted, the nostrils widely dilated, the nasal mucosa of 

 a dark brownish red, and the superficial veins distended. The 

 pulse is weak, slow, irregular, intermittent and sometimes im- 

 perceptible. Sensation seems to be in abeyance. No attention 



