REVIEW. 
89 
presented to the veterinary surgeons of this kingdom. Since 
the appearance of the treatise in question, other cases of the 
same kind have come under my care, which have enabled me 
to more fully comprehend the general character of the dis- 
ease ; and I now submit to the reader every fact which I 
am in possession of with regard to it. To the inquiring 
veterinarian, I trust these facts will prove of value, inasmuch 
as they may enable him to diagnose a disease, the existence 
of which has hitherto been entirely overlooked by our best 
and most observant writers upon equine pathology. 
“ I have named this disease Hysteria from the very close 
resemblance which it bears to the malady in women, and also 
from the fact of its constant occurrence in the mare . To 
prove this more fully, and, in fact, I may say beyond dispute, 
I will quote from Watson, Copland, and others who have 
written upon hysteria, and thus enable the reader to judge as 
to whether I am right in the conclusions I seek to establish. 
* I need not tell you,’ remarks Watson,* that hysteria is 
almost, though not exclusively, confined to women. It occurs 
under a great variety of forms, but they may ail be reduced, 
for convenience of description, to two. In the first of these 
the trunk and limbs of the patient are agitated with strong 
convulsive movements ; she struggles violently, like a person 
contending; rises into a sitting posture, and then throws 
herself back again ; forcibly retracts and extends her legs, 
while her body is twisted from side to side ; and so powerful 
are these muscular contortions that it often is all that three 
or four strong persons can do to restrain a slight girl, and 
prevent her from injuring herself and others. The head is 
generally thrown backwards, and the throat projects; the 
face is flushed ; the eyelids are closed and tremulous ; the 
nostrils distended; the jaws often firmly shut. If the hands 
are left at liberty she will strike her breast repeatedly and 
quickly, or carry her fingers to her throat, as if to move 
some oppression there ; or she will sometimes tear her hair, 
or rend her clothes, or attempt to bite those about her. With 
all this her breathing is deep, labouring, irregular, and the 
heart palpitates. After a short time this violent agitation is 
calmed; but the patient lies panting and trembling, and 
starting at the slightest noise or the gentlest touch ; or some- 
times she remains motionless during the remissions, with a 
fixed eye ; till all at once the convulsive movements are 
renewed ; and this alternation of spasm and quiet will go on 
for a space of time that varies considerably in different 
cases.’ 
* See ‘ Watson on the Principles and Practice of Physic,’ vol. i, p. C83. 
xxvii. 12 
