Epilepsy. Falling Sickness. 57 



could not do away with the fact that the essential conditions of 

 epilepsy are permanently present in the nervous centres. The 

 dif&culty therefore of making an accurate differential diagnosis, 

 resides largely in the impossibility of drawing a definite line of 

 pathological separation between eclampsia and epilepsy. 



From Vertigo epilepsy is distinguished by the absence in the 

 former of marked spasmodic contractions. It is only in the mild- 

 er forms of epilepsy those in which the spasmodic action is so 

 slight as to be overlooked, that this disease can be confounded 

 with vertigo. 



From Thrombosis or embolism of the iliac or femoral arteries 

 epilepsy is easily distinguished by the absence of exercise as the 

 essential cause in the development of the latter. In thrombosis 

 on the other hand, the loss of control over the hind limbs is de- 

 veloped at will by active motion (walking, trotting). In throm- 

 bosis too the absence of pulsation at the fetlocks or at any point 

 below the seat of obstruction is conclusive. 



Question of Soundness and Jurisprudence. Manifestly a 

 horse or bull subject to attacks of epilepsy is not sound. It is 

 moreover a disease, the symptoms of which are only shown for a 

 very short period at one time, after a long interval of apparently 

 perfect health. It is, therefore, a disease against which a purchas- 

 er cannot be expected to protect himself and he should have the 

 right to annul the sale and return the animal in case the infirmity 

 should appear within a reasonable period after purchase. This 

 is provided for in the laws of different countries of Europe, thus 

 in Wurtenberg, Baden and Hesse, a purchased animal may 

 be returned within 28 days ; in France within 30 days, and in 

 Bavaria within 40 days. The greatest difficulty arises from the 

 frequent impossibility of obtaining expert testimony on a seizure 

 which is likely to occur at any moment, without premonition, 

 and in which the testimony of a non-expert may easily be mis- 

 leading. It seems as if complaint having been made within the 

 specified legal time, an extension of guarantee should be given 

 by the court, the animal to be meanwhile kept under the super- 

 vision of a veterinarian. 



Another question has arisen as to the position of an animal 

 suffering from reflex epilepsy. If the attacks are caused by in- 

 testinal worms or nasal acarina which are easily removed, it is 



