Stringhalt 295 
STRINGHALT, CHOREA 
Chorea is a disease known by a spasmodic contrac- 
tion of some of the voluntary muscles. The muscles 
twitch or tremble. The cause and real nature of this 
disease are not known. It is similar to St. Vitus’ dance 
in the human family. It usually occurs in animals of 
a nervous disposition. Chorea in some of its forms 
is frequently seen in horses and dogs; in the latter it 
sometimes occurs as a sequel to distemper. It is prob- 
able that several diseases, or symptoms of several dis- 
eases, are confounded loosely under the general term 
chorea by the layman; but for practical purposes here 
they may all be considered together. 
There are several forms of the disease, and the 
symptoms vary accordingly. One of the most frequent 
forms is stringhalt in horses. This is a marked spas- 
modie jerking up of the hind leg as the horse travels. 
In some cases it is seen only when the horse first starts, 
after standing in the stall, and disappears after a few 
steps have been taken. There is a form of stringhalt 
that sometimes follows punctured wounds of the foot, 
and disappears as soon as the wound heals. Another 
form of chorea is shown by the inability of the horse 
to lift the hind foot, which seems to be fastened to 
the floor. When he does get it loose it is lifted up 
high, and is held a moment in that position. This 
form of the disease is called “immobility,” and is most 
pronounced on making the horse “stand over” quietly, 
after he has stood in the stable for a time, especially 
over night. The symptoms usually disappear if the 
