120 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



weather, with deprivation of water, is another very 

 common cause. 



Symptoms. — The patient, after staggering around 

 for a moment or so, suddenly falls to the ground 

 in convulsions, uttering loud cries, champing the 

 jaws, and frothing at the mouth. The animal strug- 

 gles convulsively with its feet, goes into convulsions, 

 and loses consciousnes. In some cases the patient 

 seems to have an irresistible desire to run, and tears 

 along, foaming at the mouth and champing the 

 jaws, finally to fall and go into convulsions before 

 losing consciousness. These cases generally give 

 rise to the cry of "mad dog," the unfortunate only 

 too often being mercilessly clubbed to death or 

 mangled by ineffective shots from revolvers of zeal- 

 ous but incompetent guardians of the law. During 

 the fit, breathing is rapid and dyspneic, the pupils 

 dilated and insensible to light, reflexes suppressed, 

 and the pulse slow, small, and hard. The convul- 

 sions sometimes cease suddenly, at other times 

 gradually, and often give place to general tetanic 

 spasms, during which the involuntary passage of 

 feces and urine takes place. When the attack is 

 over the patient usually quickly regains conscious- 

 ness, but remains exhausted and dazed for some 

 time. But sometimes the attack is ended by a deep, 

 snoring sleep. In many cases the animal is < ex- 

 tremely irritable and until completely restored to its 

 normal mental equilibrium shows a tendency to 

 bite, if handled. Fits may last from fifteen secondi^ 

 to half an hour and recur quite frequently, or the 

 periods of intermission may be quite prolonged. 



Treatment. — During an attack very little can be 

 done, with the exception of preventing the animal 

 from knocking itself about, wedging open the jaws 

 to prevent laceration of the tongue, and applying cold 

 water or ice to the head. Afterwards all discoverable 



