Epilepsy. Falling Sickness. 55 



The duration of the attack may be from one to five minutes, 

 rarely more, and there is often a slow and progressive subsidence 

 of the spasms. When recovered the animal may get up and go 

 to eating or rumination as in health. 



Symptoms in Sheep. In sheep the attack is sudden. The 

 animal ceases eating or stops in its walking, and after turning or 

 other voluntary movement falls to the ground, head extended, 

 mouth open, eyes rolling or squinting, and with rigidity or 

 twitching of the muscles of the neck or limbs. There is the 

 same loss of sensation, frothing from the mouth, and grinding of 

 the teeth as in the larger animals. The attack may last 40 to 50 

 seconds. 



Symptoms in Swine. In pigs a state of discomfort and rest- 

 lessness often marks the approach of an attack, referable probably 

 to the digestive disturbance or to parasites which furnish the oc- 

 casion of the disease. Uneasy, wandering movements, jerkings 

 of head or limbs, rolling of the eyes, champing of the jaws 

 may first appear. Then the animal falls, extending its limbs 

 and head, with open mouth, retracted lips, and a free flow of 

 saliva. Trembling and jerking of the head, neck and limbs, 

 hurried, short, difficult breathing, and complete loss of sensation, 

 may be noted. Discharges of urine, semen, and prostatic fluid 

 are not uncommon. The attack usually lasts 2 or 3 minutes, 

 and exceptionally 10 to 15. In the shorter seizures, frequent 

 repetition is not uncommon, Delafond having observ^ed 5 or 6 

 attacks in the course of an hour. 



Symptoms in Dogs. The attack is sudden and unheralded by 

 prodromata. The animal stops, trembles, cries plaintively and 

 falls ; he may manage to rise or to do so in part but instantly falls 

 anew. The limbs stiffen, tremble or twitch, the head is extended 

 or flexed, or jerked, violently striking the ground, the mouth 

 open, with abundant saliva, or firmly closed though the tongue 

 may be between the teeth. The trunk may be firm and rigid or 

 alternately twisted in one direction or the other. The eyes roll 

 or squint, and the breathing is^ stertorous and 'difficult. Insensi- 

 bility is complete. Toward the end of the attack there may be 

 a discharge of urine, faeces or semen, the stools often containing 

 worms. The body is often wet with perspiration during or after 

 an attack. 



