66 Veterinary Medicine. 



Treatment. Among the first indications are fresh air and 

 wholesome easily digestible food. The removal of any source of 

 intestinal irritation should be sought by bland laxatives. As 

 the health is usually low, a course of iron tonics is nearly always 

 in order. 



Special nervous tonics are next demanded. No agent has a 

 better reputation than arsenious acid. Ten drops of a i per cent, 

 solution of arsenite of soda may be given daily to the dog or one 

 ounce to the horse. If gastric irritation forbids the use of this 

 agent, sulphate of zinc may be given in i to 3 grain doses twice 

 a day to the dog. In other cases strychnine ^\ to ^V ^^ ^ grain 

 may be given in the same manner. 



Nerve sedatives often have a good effect in calming the nerv- 

 ous irritability and in this way belladonna, conium, canabis 

 Indica, chloral, chloroform, acetanilid, trional, etc., have been 

 employed. 



In the same line are ice bags or ether spray applied to 

 the spine for ten minutes at a time, and douche baths of cold 

 water, the animal being afterward rubbed dry. This last par- 

 takes of the nature of a stimulant and may be classed with gentle 

 exercise which at once distracts the patients' attention from the 

 nervous infirmity; trains him to control the muscles, gives nor- 

 mal exercise and tone to the enfeebled organs and improves the 

 general health. 



CONVUI^SIVE TWITCHING OF THE FACE. 



Nature of phenomenon, arhythmic, hyperexcitability of nerve centres or 

 skin. Nerve section. Head jerking : horse, hard bit, severe check, inter- 

 nal pain, exertion, hypersensitiveness. Treatment : nerve section. Tongue 

 lolling, etc. Flapping of lower lip. Nasal rhythmic movements. Weav- 

 ing, from impatienqe, rhythmic. Rocking on hind limbs. Resting foot on 

 coronet. Pawing. Treatment : eliminate irritation, nerve tonics, sedatives, 

 hygienic measures. 



This has been observed especially in the dog and may be 

 easily confounded with chorea. The muscles on one side of the 

 face are twitched at more or less regular intervals, or in other 

 cases there are sudden opening and closing of the lower jaw. 



