AND HIS DISEASES. 1^7 



Symptoms. — All at once, when going, along the road, he is 

 observed to jerk up his head in a convulsive manner; he 

 seems giddy, reels, staggers, and may fall down and lie for 

 a few moments insensible ; he gets up, looks stupidly about, 

 shakes himself, and proceeds as if nothing had happened. 



At other times he merely stops, experiences a few convul- 

 sive movements of the head, with slight giddiness, which by 

 letting him stand a few minutes soon passes off. He is ever 

 after subject to these fits, especially during the hot summer 

 months. 



Treatment. — When depending on organic changes in the 

 brain it is incurable, and is subject to these attacks from 

 time to time. When a fit comes on, on the road, stop him at 

 once, throw the collar forward off his shoulders and let him 

 stand ; if convenient, pour a stream of cold water over his 

 head. Bleeding in the mouth has been recommended, but 

 is quite empirical ; it soon passes off. When occurring in 

 a young horse for the first time, he should be well physicked 

 out, and if worms are suspected, treated as recommended for 

 worms. Tonics are often beneficial, especially arsenic given 

 in doses of from three to five grains daily. Megrim subjects 

 are dangerous hacks, and should only be used where they can 

 do no harm to life or property. 



PARALYSIS, PALSY. 



By paralysis is meant either the partial or complete loss 

 of power of voluntary motion of a part of the body. 



Causes. — It depends on some lesion or other interruption 

 of function in the spinal cord, usually arising from injury of 

 the vertebrae, causing bruising pressure or effusion on to the 

 cord or its membranes. Injury of the spine sometimes arises 

 from being cast for operations, falls in leaping, turning in a 

 na,rrow stall, &c. It may be complete fracture or partial, 

 giving rise to enlargement of the bone producing pressure 



